UniFi Protect Cameras - AI Detections and Facial Recognition
UniFi Protect includes a suite of advanced AI-powered smart detection features that enhance security monitoring and streamline incident review. These capabilities—such as person and vehicle detection, facial recognition, license plate logging, and audio classification—help you proactively respond to events and simplify footage analysis.
UniFi’s edge AI processing takes place entirely on-premises—either directly on the camera or via optional accessories like the AI Port or AI Key—so your video never needs to be sent to the cloud for analysis.
Smart Detection Capabilities by Camera Model
| Detection Feature | G6 / AI Series | G5 / G4 Series | G3 Cameras | Third-Party Cameras (ONVIF) |
| Motion Detection | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | w/ AI Port |
| Person Detection | ✓ | ✓ | w/ AI Port | w/ AI Port |
| Face Recognition | ✓* | w/ AI Port | w/ AI Port | w/ AI Port |
Clothing Type/Color, Face Enhancement, Gender, Accessories (Backpack, etc.) |
w/ AI Key | w/ AI Key | w/ AI Key + AI Port | w/ AI Key + AI Port |
| Vehicle Detection | ✓ | ✓ | w/ AI Port | w/ AI Port |
Vehicle Type, Vehicle Color |
✓ | w/ AI Port | w/ AI Port | w/ AI Port |
| License Plate Recognition (LPR) | ✓* | w/ AI Port | w/ AI Port | w/ AI Port |
| Line Crossing | ✓** | ✓** | w/ AI Port | w/ AI Port |
| Line Cross Counting | ✓** | w/ AI Port | w/ AI Port | w/ AI Port |
|
Audio Recognition (speech, glass break, etc.) |
✓*** | ✓*** | w/ AI Port | w/ AI Port |
| Speech-to-Text | w/ AI Key | w/ AI Key | w/ AI Key + AI Port | w/ AI Key + AI Port |
| AI-Enhanced Alarms | w/ AI Key | w/ AI Key | w/ AI Key & AI Port | w/ AI Key & AI Port |
| Advanced AI Summaries | w/ AI Key | w/ AI Key | w/ AI Key & AI Port | w/ AI Key & AI Port |
| Natural Language Search | w/ AI Key | w/ AI Key | w/ AI Key & AI Port | w/ AI Key & AI Port |
* Excluding 360 models
** Not available on PTZ models
*** Microphone-equipped models only
For more information about AI-enabling hardware, see AI Port FAQ and AI Key FAQ.
What Can You Do With AI Detections?
UniFi Protect’s AI detections go beyond classification—they’re deeply integrated across the platform to power smarter workflows and responses.
Search in the Find Anything Tab
Quickly search recordings using object types, license plates, keywords, or sound classifications.
Build Incident Reports with Case Manager
Group and annotate relevant footage into structured incident reports for export and sharing. Learn more.
Create Custom Logic for Alerts and Automations
Use Alarm Manager to trigger automated responses from detection events—for example, turning on floodlights, adjusting PTZ cameras, or unlocking a door with UniFi Access. Learn more.
Archive Footage to External Storage
Protect can automatically archive detections to a local NAS or cloud service for compliance and long-term retention. Learn more.