Blink home security cams have been one of my top choices for people looking for well-rounded and affordable security devices with long-lasting batteries. The outdoor model in particular is one of my favorites. That’s why I was glad to see that, starting Monday, Blink is rolling out new video descriptions to users.
These AI-powered video descriptions are the latest home security feature to arrive on the subscription-based cameras, including those that use Google’s Gemini for Home. They’re advanced algorithms that condense video clips into a brief explanation to save you time and hassle when you receive alerts that your camera captured something.
Blink’s descriptions, while still in early access, come with one huge advantage. They’re available completely for free along with a Blink subscription, which starts at $4 per month. That’s already one of the lowest subscription rates for home security cams, and unlike other AI video plans, you don’t have to upgrade to a high tier to access the latest options. I can’t guarantee that Blink’s descriptions will always be a free add-on, but for now it’s one of the best deals.
Why are AI descriptions such a big thing in home security?
Everyone is using the “AI” catchphrase right now, but descriptions like these really are AI-powered. They use learning algorithms, LLM-like capabilities that are trained on so many images that they can correctly label specific objects in a picture — or a video captured by home security cameras. All you have to do is let the algorithm scan the video clips that home security cameras record, which not everyone is comfortable with.
I’ve been testing these video descriptions ever since they first came out, and they’ve spread to most of the big home security brands in 2025, including not only Nest but Arlo, Ring, Wyze and more. They’re one of my favorite ways to use AI in the home, and I haven’t come across any privacy fiascos so far.
One of the most annoying parts of home security cam management is deciding if video clips need viewing based on vague motion alerts. Object identification helped with this: Getting an alert that a package was recognized along with a person can be very useful if you want to save time. Full video descriptions take this usefulness and multiply it, adding details about people, vehicles, colors, specific objects and more. It’s easy to tell if a home security video needs further attention or if you already have enough info to act on, which leads to time and sanity saved.
Some AI video features go even deeper, like the ability to search video footage for specific objects or ask the AI questions about what happened. For now, Blink is sticking with the simpler version of the software, which expands notifications with a broader explanation of what’s going on.
How do I get these AI video descriptions from Blink?
Blink is currently rolling out descriptions to its subscribers as an early access plan at no additional charge (free trial users won’t get it). If you want to know if you have it, make sure your Blink app is updated to the latest version and check to see if it’s an option. You should get a notification about the feature, but if not you can double-check in the Notifications section of the Blink app’s Settings.
If you do have the new feature, you’ll see it comes in two flavors, with quick notifications turned on or off. Quick notifications prioritize pushing basic motion alerts first and add the AI description later. With the feature off, you only get the completed alert with AI description when it’s ready. That takes longer, but you get all the info at once. Personally, I prefer waiting for the full description, as motion alerts are rarely time-sensitive unless you’re trying to catch a porch pirate or trespasser.
Note that the descriptions have several limitations. They don’t work with early first-gen models of Blink devices, they won’t affect how Alexa interacts with Blink, and there are some locations where AI video descriptions are disabled due to privacy laws — notably, the state of Illinois. But for those who can use these features, it’s a great way to try some of the most advanced technology in the smart home, without high fees.
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