PetLibro’s Scout Smart Camera Uses AI to charmingly narrate Your Pet’s Activities and Behaviors

PetLibro, a pet tech startup best known for its automatic feeders and filtered water fountains, has unveiled its latest innovation: the AI-powered Scout Smart Camera. This new camera aims to give pet owners real-time insights into their furry friends' activities and behaviors, making it a valuable tool for keeping an eye on pets while adding a touch of adorability. Scout functions similarly to other pet cameras on the market, offering real-time monitoring and two-way audio capabilities. Pet owners can use the companion mobile app to control the camera's movements or let it automatically follow their pet as they move around. If your pet goes out of sight, the camera can emit a chirping sound to draw their attention back. What truly sets Scout apart is its advanced AI capabilities. The camera uses pet recognition technology to track specific activities, such as eating, drinking, using the litter box, or simply moving across the screen. It captures spontaneous selfies of your pet when detected and provides daily activity highlights, storing up to 30 days of footage in the cloud. Moreover, Scout can distinguish between multiple pets, allowing it to track their activities individually. Currently, users can set profiles for up to two pets within the app. York Wu, PetLibro's founder and CEO, explained the challenges the team faced in developing this feature. "Our early models had trouble differentiating between similar-looking pets, which is a common issue in multi-pet households. Traditional facial recognition didn't work well when pets moved quickly or shared features. To overcome this, we created a feedback-driven system that improves through real-world use over time." One unique aspect of Scout is its ability to provide charming narratives of your pet's actions. For example, during testing, it described, "Zelda is calmly strolling across the shiny floor, her nose pointed forward as she explores her surroundings with gentle curiosity." These cute descriptions add a layer of engagement and entertainment for pet owners. Another notable feature is the option to share the camera with up to five family members or friends, enhancing its versatility for households with multiple caregivers. Priced at $100, the Scout camera is more affordable compared to some competitors. However, to access all the AI-driven features, users must subscribe to one of PetLibro's plans. The standard plan costs $12 per month, while the premium plan is $17 per month. For comparison, Furbo, another popular pet camera company, offers a device with an AI "Nanny" assistant for a monthly fee of $7. Furbo's camera, priced at $210, is primarily targeted at dog owners and includes bark detection—a feature currently missing from Scout. PetLibro is working on adding bark and meow detection to Scout, which could expand its appeal to a broader audience. Though the Scout camera doesn't include a food dispenser, PetLibro plans to integrate AI capabilities with its existing feeders and fountains, further differentiating its product lineup. In terms of privacy, PetLibro's policy states that the camera collects image and video data to enhance the device's AI features. The company assures that this data is managed according to cybersecurity standards, and unlike some other smart cameras, it does not use audio for AI data collection. Overall, PetLibro's Scout Smart Camera combines practical functionality with heartwarming, personalized descriptions, making it an appealing choice for pet owners looking to stay connected and informed about their furry companions' lives.