Skip to main content

Leak suggests an Alexa-connected security camera could be next for Amazon

is alexa getting a camera dtdeals amazon echo dot 2
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Amazon’s Echo can already take photos and turn them into stories but a recent leak suggests Alexa could be getting eyes of her own. A crawler bot from AFTVnews caught an image of what appears to be a security camera with a style suggesting Echo integration.

The photograph suggests an unreleased security camera with Amazon branding. The lens appears to be circled by a blue ring light, which gives the camera a similar styling as the popular virtual home assistant. The front of the camera also appears to have LEDs for night vision, though the stand-style design suggests indoor use.

Amazon hasn’t confirmed any sort of development of an Alexa camera, so the photo is just that — a leak of a device that may or may not ever make it to the market. But, with the popularity of the Echo, it wouldn’t be too surprising to learn that Amazon was working on additional accessories to give the assistant more capabilities than what is possible with some new software.

Of course, the only thing connecting the leaked photo with Alexa is a similar design, which means it could just be a regular home security camera.

While the photo shouldn’t be taken as anything more than a rumor, adding eyes could give virtual assistants a big boost. The Amazon Echo is praised for its ability to constantly evolve and a new accessory like a connected security camera could certainly take that up a notch.

The Mylestone skill has already proven that object and scene recognition software can give Alexa the ability to understand what’s going on in a photograph — interpreting what is happening through a live security camera feed wouldn’t be too much of a stretch. Imagine being able to connect Alexa to a video baby monitor, or to ask Alexa if the doorbell is your Amazon package or the pizza delivery guy.

For now, the possibility of giving Alexa eyes is just a rumor but it’s one many Echo users likely wouldn’t mind seeing.

Editors' Recommendations

Hillary K. Grigonis
Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…
At long last, Amazon brings AI features to Alexa
Amazon SVP of Devices and Services Dave Limp demonstrates the Let's Chat feature of Alexa, powered by AI.

Nearly a year after ChatGPT introduced the world to the uncannily human possibilities of generative AI, Amazon has unveiled new Alexa features powered by large language models (LLM). At the annual Amazon Devices Event hosted at its new Arlington, Virginia, headquarters, the company announced some major Alexa improvements that will attempt to make replies much more conversational and lifelike, with less waiting time between your interactions and more meaningful replies.

A new feature called Let's Chat mimics the ChatGPT experience by allowing you to have a fluid conversation with Alexa, asking questions about everything from the voice assistant's football team allegiance to recipes. You can even ask it to write emails for you. In the demo with Dave Limp, outgoing senior vice president of devices and services, Alexa sometimes stalled and needed a second prompt to answer questions, suggesting the feature may still need some polish.

Read more
What is Amazon Alexa, and what can it do?
Echo 4th Gen speaker on table.

Amazon Alexa is an interactive voice assistant that can check the weather, launch your favorite playlist, and everything in between. Alexa can be found on most Amazon products, including the new Echo Pop, the iconic Echo Dot, and even a variety of smart thermostats, soundbars, lamps, and more. Aside from taking basic commands from you, Alexa can also dish out commands to the rest of your connected smart home -- making it easy to streamline your life.

Interested in learning more about Amazon Alexa? Then you’re in the right place. Here’s a closer look at where Alexa comes from, how it works, where it got its name, and just about everything else you’d want to know about the popular voice assistant and smart home savant.
Who/what is Alexa?

Read more
Amazon to pay $30M in FTC settlements over Alexa, Ring privacy violations
Amazon logo on the headquarters building.

Amazon has agreed to pay $25 million to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to settle charges over privacy violations linked to its digital assistant, Alexa.

In a separate case, Amazon-owned Ring will pay $5.8 million for violations of users’ privacy.

Read more