i-PRO Co. Ltd. expects rising demand in 2026 for edge-based artificial intelligence, expanded channel education and stronger cybersecurity practices as the security industry continues shifting from concept-driven discussions to real-world deployment.

The company said advances in edge AI performance, combined with growing cyber risk and skills gaps across the channel, will define the year ahead. According to i-PRO, end users are increasingly focused on technologies that deliver measurable operational improvements, reduce costs and support faster decision-making.

“AI is no longer a theoretical discussion between manufacturers, integrators, and end users,” said Gerard Figols, chief operating officer at i-PRO. “While many AI-powered cameras have been sold, in 2025 we saw meaningful gains in accuracy and usability as more users explored the capabilities of what the technology could achieve for their unique requirements. The next phase is about ensuring the technology is deployed responsibly, efficiently, and with the right training behind it.”

One of i-PRO’s key predictions for 2026 is the emergence of generative AI running directly at the edge. Improvements in processing hardware are allowing models to learn and refine themselves on-device, reducing reliance on cloud infrastructure. The company said this approach lowers bandwidth requirements and avoids the cost of cloud-only analytics, which can scale to hundreds of dollars per camera per month.

i-PRO also expects a continued shift away from traditional, timeline-based video review. Alerts, automated detection and metadata-driven search using natural language are becoming primary tools for operators, with raw video increasingly serving as a reference rather than the foundation of investigations.

Education is expected to become a strategic priority for integrators as the pace of change in AI, IT convergence and cybersecurity accelerates.

“Anyone can mount an AI camera. That does not mean it will perform,” Figols said. “The market needs deeper understanding and repeatable best practices. Education is how we improve outcomes and build long-term trust.”

The company also sees new recurring revenue opportunities emerging for integrators. As AI models evolve and cybersecurity requirements continue to grow, i-PRO expects service contracts covering system updates, security hardening and algorithm refinement to become a significant growth area.

“Technology does not stand still. Integrators who support continuous updates and lifecycle management will strengthen their customer relationships and generate new value,” Figols said.

Cybersecurity remains the most urgent issue facing the physical security industry, according to i-PRO. The company said cyber maturity is the foundation for adopting AI and cloud technologies with confidence, pointing to its focus on ethical and transparent AI governance and its ISO/IEC 42001 certification for AI management systems.

“Cybersecurity underpins the entire technology stack. Trust and data integrity are the prerequisites for deploying AI and cloud capabilities with confidence and piece of mind,” Figols said.

Looking ahead, i-PRO said it expects 2026 to build on strong global growth in 2025, with continued momentum around practical AI deployments, open platforms and edge-driven intelligence.

“The installations that succeed in 2026 will be open, collaborative, cybersecure, and supported by the right training,” Figols said.