SweepLED technology uses AI to detect hidden cameras via smartphone

Researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), in collaboration with universities in Singapore, have developed a new smartphone attachment called SweepLED designed to detect hidden cameras.

The technology achieves a 94% success rate by combining a specialized LED attachment with deep-learning-based detection software. Unlike traditional detectors that only identify light reflections from glass or metal, SweepLED uses LEDs to illuminate objects from various angles while the smartphone camera records changing light patterns. An integrated AI model analyzes these reflections to identify camera lenses within five seconds.

The hardware component is reported to be extremely inexpensive to manufacture, with estimated costs around 150 CZK. While the hardware is low-cost, reports suggest that access to the recognition software may eventually require a paid subscription.