Sinister surveillance fears grow after Super Bowl spotlight on AI doorbells

Privacy worries are growing over video surveillance and artificial intelligence after an Amazon Ring doorbell advertisement featured in the recent Super Bowl.

The commercial highlighted a feature designed to help locate and identify lost pets, demonstrating how the smart doorbell can analyse footage and recognise specific animals.

While marketed as a helpful innovation for families, the advancement has sparked unease among privacy advocates and tech experts.

Critics warn that technology capable of identifying pets today could potentially be adapted to recognise people tomorrow, raising questions about facial recognition, data storage and how footage may be accessed or shared.

Others have questioned how long video data is retained, who ultimately controls it, and whether law enforcement or third parties could seek access.

The Super Bowl showcase served as a reminder of how quickly AI-driven surveillance is becoming embedded in everyday life and how blurred the line between helpful and intrusive technology may become.