With its new app store, Ring bets on AI to go beyond home security

Amazon-owned Ring, which has over 100 million cameras deployed, is launching a new app store designed to expand the functionality of its devices beyond traditional home security. Initially targeting sectors such as elder care, workforce analytics, and rental management, the app store will enable developers to create specialized applications that leverage Ring’s cameras and microphones to provide tailored real-world insights. This initiative is fueled by advances in artificial intelligence, allowing Ring to unlock new use cases that go beyond simple surveillance, as explained by CEO Jamie Siminoff. However, Ring is imposing restrictions on apps that could raise privacy concerns, explicitly banning features like facial recognition and license plate readers to address consumer backlash against invasive surveillance. The app store will be accessible through the Ring app on iOS and Android, initially limited to U.S. customers, and will operate outside the traditional phone app stores’ payment systems. Users will likely need to download partner apps separately, and Ring will not pay commissions to Apple or Google for these transactions. Instead, Ring plans