Apple is reported to be developing a smart home camera that does not record or store video, using AI to analyse what happens inside a home and describe it in text.

Gizmodo Japan reported on Thursday that the product, known inside Apple by the codename J450, is a small camera for home security and automation. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman has listed J450 as one of the key products in Apple’s smart home strategy.

The biggest feature of J450 is that it does not provide users with video like typical security cameras. It detects surroundings with a low-frame-rate camera and then uses AI to analyse them, delivering only text descriptions such as "someone entered the room". The idea is intended to reduce privacy concerns tied to video storage.

It is said to be a small cylinder that resembles a large lip balm in a metal material. It is expected to detect people’s movement and presence when installed in multiple places around a home, and to support facial recognition.

J450 is being designed to work with Apple’s smart home display, J490, which is under development. J490 is being developed as a home hub that controls Apple home devices and enables the use of Siri and AI functions.

The camera technology is said to be similar to technology Apple has been developing for future camera-equipped AirPods. The focus is on analysing needed information on the device without sending the video itself outside.

Apple already offers features in its Home app that distinguish people, pets, vehicles and deliveries, and use AI to summarise situations. If J450 is released, it is expected to expand such software features into dedicated hardware and help broaden Apple’s smart home ecosystem. The launch timing and final specifications have not been disclosed.