Synectics sees first deployment of AI-powered ‘Synergy Search’ video tool

Synectics, a specialist in security and surveillance technology, including for the land-based casino industry, says it has successfully deployed its “Synergy Search” product with a “first customer”. Synergy Search is said to use artificial intelligence (AI) to enable “rapid, natural-language search across live and recorded video”. There will be a “wider commercial launch” later this year, the company said in a statement. It did not give further details about the first client or the industry sector involved. The firm said that the product “allows operators to search large volumes of footage using everyday language to describe the people, vehicles, objects or activity they are looking for”. Synectics said the product’s uses range from “investigating suspected fraud, disputes and regulatory incidents in casinos, to helping police identify suspects, vehicles and witnesses and reconstruct event timelines, or enabling transport and critical infrastructure operators to understand security, safety and operational incidents quickly”. According the statement, Synergy Search is designed to work with businesses’ existing camera installations, including setups with “thousands of cameras”. The product’s potential uses encompass “casinos and resorts, transport, stadiums and venues, public space and critical infrastructure,” the brand said. The statement added: “Synergy Search rapidly identifies relevant footage, significantly reducing the time required to investigate incidents and identify actionable information from hours, or even days, to minutes.” Synectics said: “The technology has been successfully deployed with its first customer and is now available through an early access programme as part of the latest release of Synectics’ proprietary Synergy platform. “Further customer demonstrations and engagement are under way ahead of a wider commercial launch later this year.” Amanda Larnder, Synectics’ chief executive, was cited as saying: “We are building scalable products that solve real operational challenges for customers and create new opportunities for growth.” She added that Synergy Search also supports the firm’s “strategy to increase recurring software revenues over time by adding new subscription-based capabilities to the Synergy platform”. The first deployment of the new product follows the recent launch of the company’s Scene Check technology, said to automate the verification of thousands of surveillance cameras in minutes, and the achievement of United Kingdom-government endorsed Cyber Assurance of Physical Security Systems (CAPSS) certification.