Industry Perspectives on AI with New Report
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Axis Communications has published a new report that explores the state of AI in the global video
surveillance industry. Titled The State of AI in Video Surveillance, the report examines the key
opportunities, challenges and future trends, as well as the responsible practices that are becoming
critical for organisations in their use of AI. The report draws insights from qualitative research as well
as quantitative data sources, including in-depth interviews with carefully selected experts from the
Axis global partner network.
A leading insight featured in the report is the unanimous view among interviewees that interest in
the technology has surged over the past few years, with more and more business customers
becoming curious and increasingly knowledgeable about its potential applications.
“AI is a technology that has the potential to touch every corner and every function of the modern
enterprise. That said, any implementations or integrations that aim to drive value come with serious
financial and ethical considerations. These considerations should prompt organisations to scrutinise
any initiative or investment. Axis’s new report not only shows how AI is transforming the video
surveillance landscape, but also how that transformation should ideally be approached,” said Mats
Thulin, Director AI & Analytics Solutions at Axis Communications.
The migration to the cloud is accelerating
According to the Axis report, the move by businesses from on-premise security server systems to
hybrid cloud architectures continues at pace, driven by the need for faster processing, improved
bandwidth usage and greater scalability. At the same time, cloud-based technology is being
combined with edge AI solutions, which play a crucial role by enabling faster, local analytics with
minimal latency, a prerequisite for real-time responsiveness in security-related situations.
By moving AI processing closer to the source using edge devices such as cameras, businesses can
reduce bandwidth consumption and better support real-time applications like security monitoring.
As a result, the hybrid approach is expected to continue to shape the role of AI in security and unlock
new business intelligence and operational efficiencies.
Data integration and consolidation
A trend that is emerging among businesses is the integration of diverse data for a more
comprehensive analysis, transforming safety and security. Experts predict that by integrating
additional sensory data, such as audio and contextual environmental factors caught on camera, can
lead to enhanced situational awareness and greater actionable insights, offering a more
comprehensive understanding of events.
Combining multiple data streams can ultimately lead to improved detection and prediction of
potential threats or incidents. For example, in emergency scenarios, pairing visual data with audio
analysis can enable security teams to respond more quickly and precisely. This context-aware
approach can potentially elevate safety, security and operational efficiency, and reflects how system
operators can leverage and process multiple data inputs to make better-informed decisions.
Taking a responsible and ethical approach to AI
According to the Axis report, interviewees emphasised that responsible AI and ethical considerations
are critical priorities in the development and deployment of new systems, raising concerns about
decisions potentially based on biased or unreliable AI. Other risks highlighted include those related
to privacy violations and how facial and behavioural recognition could have ethical and legal
repercussions.
As a result, a recurring theme among interviewees was the importance of embedding responsible AI
practices early in the development process. Interviewees also pointed to regulatory frameworks,
such as the EU AI Act, as pivotal in shaping responsible use of technology, particularly in high-risk
areas. While regulation was broadly acknowledged as necessary to build trust and accountability,
several interviewees also stressed the need for balance to safeguard innovation and address privacy
and data security concerns.
“The findings of this report reflect how enterprises are viewing the trend of AI holistically, working to
have a firm grasp of both how to use the technology effectively and understand the macro
implications of its usage. Conversations surrounding privacy and responsibility will continue but so
will the pace of innovation and the adoption of technologies that advance the video surveillance
industry and lead to new and exciting possibilities,” Thulin added.
To read the Axis State of AI in Video Surveillance report, click here. For more information about how
Axis Solutions can improve security, safety, operational efficiency and business intelligence.
