Your Ring doorbell just got a new AI feature, and it will keep you from having to deal with anyone

Ring is officially launching its newest AI assistant, Alexa+ Greetings, as reported by Techradar, and it promises to handle those awkward door interactions when you just can’t get up to answer. This is fantastic news for anyone who hates dealing with unexpected visitors, because now you don’t have to rely on generic, pre-recorded messages anymore. This advanced system gives responses tailored specifically to the person standing outside your home, using instructions you set up in advance.

For example, if you’re expecting a package, you can tell Alexa+ Greetings exactly where you want it hidden, perhaps out of sight behind your shed. When a delivery person rings, the AI identifies them and relays those instructions immediately. Even better, it can handle follow-up questions, like whether the package needs a signature, preventing that annoying process of having the item returned to the depot just because you weren’t home.

But the assistant isn’t just for deliveries; it’s also your digital bouncer. If you’ve got persistent cold callers or annoying salespeople, Alexa+ Greetings can politely turn them away. You can even set it to turn them away less politely if you’re so inclined. Conversely, if the system recognizes a friend or a family member, it gives them a friendly greeting. It’s smart enough to know the difference between the mail carrier and your neighbor dropping off a casserole.

This new feature is built on existing Ring technology, but is touted to be much more refined

Alexa+ Greetings relies on Ring Video Descriptions, which launched earlier this year. This AI feature analyzes whatever triggered your video doorbell or security camera and generates a short text notification. This means you don’t need to waste time watching a video clip just to figure out what’s going on at home. If the notification confirms it’s something routine, like the mailman stopping by or your kids getting home from school, you can just dismiss the alert and go about your day.

The company also recognized that people were still getting too many notifications. Just last month, Ring started using this same underlying technology to group together alerts for similar events. This tool, called Single Event Alerts, makes sure your phone isn’t constantly vibrating. If your gardener is spending an hour mowing the lawn or your kids are playing outside in the driveway, you won’t be bombarded with dozens of similar messages.

Alexa+ Greetings is rolling out immediately, but only to Alexa+ Early Access users in the US and Canada first. You’ll also need a subscription, as it requires a Ring Premium Plan and Ring Video Descriptions to be enabled. Currently, the feature will work with the third-gen Ring Wired Doorbell Pro and the second-gen Ring Wired Doorbell Plus.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen generative AI pop up in a video doorbell. Earlier this year, the SwannBuddy4K doorbell from home security company Swann launched with a free AI voice assistant called SwannShield.

Imagine the future where an AI doorbell can be fused with Google’s latest live translation feature, and you’d be ready to greet people who don’t even speak the same language as you. While the consumer tech space seems enriched by it, Hollywood does not share the same sentiment.