Apple's iOS 27 Home App to feature AI monitoring, but only for top iCloud+ subscribers

Apple is set to enhance its Home App with new AI-driven smart monitoring features in the upcoming iOS 27 update, scheduled for release in September. These additions aim to provide users with more intelligent insights into their home security footage.

Key among the new functionalities is the use of AI to automatically generate event descriptions from surveillance video. Users will also benefit from the ability to search monitoring footage using natural language queries. Furthermore, the system will proactively organize and recommend important clips, allowing users to quickly grasp significant events without manually reviewing all recordings.

However, these advanced AI features will not be universally available. Apple has confirmed that access will be restricted to users who subscribe to the 2TB or higher iCloud+ plan, requiring a minimum monthly payment of $9.99. This tiered access strategy highlights Apple's reliance on powerful server models for certain Apple Intelligence functions, indicating that the associated cloud AI computing costs are being passed on to premium subscribers.

The iOS 27 developer and beta versions are currently available for testing, with the official launch expected alongside the new iPhone generation. This development signals Apple's ongoing strategy to integrate AI across its product ecosystem and monetize advanced capabilities through its subscription services.