2026 video-surveillance forecast: the era of active response

From passive recording to active detection and response — AI is redefining surveillance. A major global security-camera maker posted ¥22.9B in revenue over the first three quarters of 2025, up just 2% YoY, with core hardware essentially flat — clear proof that the era of stacking hardware and passive monitoring is over.

Analysis of the Eight Major Trends in Video Surveillance in 2026

With the rapid development of technology, the video surveillance field shows eight prominent trends in 2026. These trends not only reflect the development direction of the industry but also provide new ideas and solutions for enterprises and security personnel.

Firstly, there is AI - enhanced monitoring and human - in - the - loop. The event-based system relieves operators from the need to stare at static screens for long periods. In the traditional monitoring mode, an operator can usually only monitor a limited number of camera feeds simultaneously. However, in 2026, with the help of AI technology, an operator can monitor hundreds of camera feeds at the same time. AI will first screen the monitoring footage, identify potential threats, and then wake up the operator after verification. According to industry data, after adopting this mode, the monitoring efficiency can be improved by more than 50%, greatly saving labor costs.

Edge AI enables zero-latency decision-making. It keeps the AI processing on the camera side, achieving millisecond-level triggering. Different from the traditional way of processing data by sending it back and forth to the server, edge AI does not need to wait for data transmission and server processing time. Even if the network is interrupted, local detection can still continue. This technology is of great significance in some scenarios with extremely high real-time requirements, such as financial institutions and data centers. For example, in a data center, once an abnormal situation occurs, edge AI can react immediately to avoid data loss and system failures.

The active deterrence function makes the monitoring system no longer just passively record. Cameras equipped with speakers and strobe lights can automatically issue alarms or pre-recorded voice warnings, and security personnel can also use mobile applications to shout in real-time. This active deterrence method can intervene at the first moment when a threat appears, effectively reducing the crime rate. According to relevant statistics, in areas where the active deterrence function is adopted, the crime rate can be reduced by about 30%.

VSaaS and real-time notifications bring new conveniences to the monitoring system. Cloud - based video surveillance reduces the total cost of ownership and provides off-site redundancy and ubiquitous access capabilities. Enterprises no longer need to invest a large amount of money in building local storage and servers. They can store and manage monitoring videos through the cloud. Moreover, when the monitoring system detects an abnormal event, it can send real-time notifications to relevant personnel in a timely manner to ensure a prompt response.

Automated event linkage further enhances the intelligence level of the monitoring system. When an abnormal situation such as a fence breach is detected, the system will automatically lock the access control, turn on the indoor lights, and the PTZ camera will automatically track the moving target. This automated linkage mechanism can react to abnormal events in the shortest possible time, improving security efficiency.

Network security and compliance have become procurement standards. Measures such as end - to - end encryption, anti-tampering design, automatic firmware updates, and dynamic privacy masking ensure the security and compliance of monitoring data. In today's digital age, data security is of crucial importance. When purchasing monitoring systems, enterprises will pay more attention to these security and compliance factors.

The continuous evolution of hardware provides high-quality raw data for AI analysis. The development of 4K full-color night vision and panoramic monitoring (180° / 360° coverage) technology makes the monitoring footage clearer and more comprehensive. High - quality raw data can improve the accuracy and reliability of AI analysis, providing strong support for the intelligence of the monitoring system.

Intelligent storage and bandwidth strategies optimize costs. Event - driven recording uses a low-resolution by default and switches to high-definition when a critical event is hit. This method can ensure the clear recording of critical events while saving storage and bandwidth resources. Hybrid cloud storage further reduces storage costs and improves the security and reliability of data.

Answers to Common Questions

During the development of the video surveillance industry, several questions are often asked. Firstly, what does the stagnant growth of hardware mean? This actually reflects the saturation of the market. The value is shifting from the 'number of cameras' to software and analysis. With the development of technology, simply increasing the number of cameras can no longer meet the needs of enterprises. Enterprises pay more attention to mining the value of monitoring data through software and analysis.

What is active response? Active response means changing from passively recording evidence to taking immediate action when a threat appears. Traditional monitoring systems mainly record the situation after an event occurs, while an active-response system can intervene at the moment a threat appears to avoid losses.

Will AI replace humans? The answer is no. AI is for enablement rather than replacement. It can help security personnel screen and identify potential threats, allowing them to focus on verifying real threats. AI can process a large amount of monitoring data and improve work efficiency, but the final decision-making and judgment still require human participation.

Is the upgrade cost high? Many traditional IP cameras can be directly upgraded by accessing an AI analysis platform. This means that enterprises do not need to replace a large number of hardware devices. They can simply upgrade the existing cameras to enjoy the convenience and advantages brought by AI technology, greatly reducing the upgrade cost.

The Transformation of the Value of Video Surveillance

The value of video surveillance has evolved from'recording the past' to 'changing the outcome'. In the past, video surveillance was mainly used for post-event evidence collection and analysis. Now, through the above eight trends and active-response capabilities, the monitoring system can take timely action when a threat appears, changing the development outcome of the event. Enterprises should re-evaluate the AI analysis and active-response capabilities of their systems and transform from passive victims to active guardians of their assets.

The value of video surveillance has evolved from'recording the past' to 'changing the outcome'.

The Role of DaoAI SkyVision

DaoAI SkyVision exists to help enterprises achieve this transformation. It can integrate the technologies of the above eight trends and provide comprehensive video surveillance solutions for enterprises. Through functions such as AI - enhanced monitoring, active deterrence, and automated event linkage, it helps enterprises improve security efficiency and reduce security risks. At the same time, it also focuses on network security and compliance to ensure the security and reliability of enterprise monitoring data. With the help of DaoAI SkyVision, enterprises can better cope with various security challenges and become active guardians of their assets.

This article was generated by AI. Customer cases are simulated scenarios based on real product capabilities and figures are illustrative; see product pages for official benchmarks.