Local AI servers look set to take on the cloud, and I’m all for it

Remember when the cloud promised storage and computing for a low monthly fee? Only, as time has gone on, the number of subscriptions we all have has grown, and the price has shot up.

No wonder, then, that this year’s IFA show had several local AI servers for the smart home and cameras, removing monthly fees and putting the control back in your hands.

In many ways, this is a throwback to the days when NAS devices were the home accessory of choice, but I’m all down for this, with the likes of the Anker MindBase or UGreen HomeAgent as the new local server.

An end to subscription fees

I’m not averse to paying a subscription fee, but flicking through my bank account, it’s quite scary how many things have a monthly subscription: video streaming, music, broadband, phone, software, cloud backup and so on. Where I once had a few small subscriptions, it feels like everything now needs to be paid for monthly.

Home servers promise to kill a lot of that off, even in a slightly more limited way, with the core focus on security.

More features, more control

A big change that I’ve noticed with security cameras is that there are now multiple tiers of cloud subscription, with the changes between them not only affecting how much storage you have, but often the features. Pay more for Ring, for example, and you get AI-powered video search; opt for the more basic package and you get more basic features.

Ditching that and having a central ‘brain’ gives you all the features that you could want. With the Anker MindBase and the UGreen HomeAgent, for example, the local AI can process advanced object detection, give you video search, and the apps can all tell you what’s happening in a video. No subscription in sight.

Having a centralised system also means that your storage is in one space. Upgrade when you’re running short, and you’ll have enough space for all the cameras and all of the footage, safe in your own home.

Beyond cameras

Local servers promise more than just support for security cameras. Anker will have the Eufy Smart Security Shield, a radar-based sensor to detect strangers, and promises to add new software AI agents for smart energy management and cleaning.

UGreen’s HomeAgent will offer voice control, giving you a smart-speaker experience, only with all of the data and processing handled locally.

Of course, there’s a higher up-front fee for the server hardware, but I see this as an investment. With local AI, I’m in control of what gets shared, and new features get rolled out immediately without a subscription hike. Look out for full reviews of these systems soon.