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Apple Intelligence camera video descriptions added, from the 2 TB iCloud+ plan
AI video descriptions for Home security cameras arrived, only for owners on a 2 TB or larger iCloud+ plan
What changed
- Apple Intelligence video descriptions for Home cameras
- Was Before: Not offered
- After: Requires “a 2TB iCloud+ plan”; “a limited number of cameras depending on your iCloud+ plan”
What this means for you
If you record home security cameras with HomeKit Secure Video, AI descriptions and natural-language search of clips need a 2 TB or larger iCloud+ plan, and only for a limited number of cameras. Recording itself works as before.
What you can do
How we know
Apple's iPhone guide says Home camera video descriptions need the home owner to subscribe to a 2TB iCloud+ plan.
An archived copy of Apple's US iCloud page from Sep 14, 2026 doesn't mention Home video summaries.
By Sep 15, 2026, it says they're available for a limited number of cameras depending on the iCloud+ plan.
Sources
- iPhone User Guide: Use Apple Intelligence with Home cameras and notifications (live check Sep 26 2026)
- Apple iCloud+ US page (before, Sep 14 2026: no Home video summaries) · archived copy
- Apple iCloud+ US page (after, Sep 15 2026: video summaries “depending on your iCloud+ plan”) · archived copy
- The Mac Observer: Apple Intelligence for Home requires iCloud+ starting at 2TB (Sep 2026) (secondary)
- AppleInsider: Apple Intelligence HomeKit Secure Video summaries cost up to $60 per month (Sep 15, 2026) (secondary)
Full research notes
Apple's iPhone User Guide, 'Use Apple Intelligence with Home cameras and notifications': 'With Apple Intelligence in the Home app, you can automatically generate video descriptions for recorded clips from compatible Home cameras. You can then search your recordings using natural language'. It requires that the owner of the home 'subscribe to a 2TB iCloud+ plan', an Apple Intelligence–enabled iPhone and iOS 27 or later. Apple's US iCloud page adds, first in the September 15, 2026 capture (not in the September 14 capture): 'Some Apple Intelligence features in the Home app, such as video summaries, are available for a limited number of cameras depending on your iCloud+ plan. Supported camera counts and other iCloud+ plan features may change over time.' The Mac Observer reported iOS 27 was released on September 14, 2026. AppleInsider (September 15, 2026) reported per-plan camera counts from an Apple support document; no Apple page we could read lists them, so they are not recorded here. The 50 GB and 200 GB plans don't include the feature; HomeKit Secure Video recording limits did not change.
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