Latest news with #FrankZhu
Business Upturn
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Business Upturn
Eufy Unveils the ProSecure System, Merging the Smart Home Brand's First NVR-PoE Hardware with Fully Integrated On-device Local AI Capabilities
By GlobeNewswire Published on April 24, 2025, 04:00 IST Bellevue, Washington, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — eufy, a global leader in home security technology and smart appliances by Anker Innovations, today announced the upcoming availability of the ProSecure System, the brand's first NVR-PoE security solution powered by integrated large AI model technology known as the 'Private Local AI Agent.' The advanced on-device AI technology creates an instant response to movement and activity on the user's property. 'The ProSecure System is the latest example of our commitment to bringing the very best security equipment and services to our customers locally, rather than depending solely on cloud-based services. Our local AI solution helps optimize data control and there are no fees for users storing and accessing their video,' said Frank Zhu, General Manager of eufy. 'Eufy is setting the new standard for the most powerful combination of proactive AI emergency response and 24/7 home and property surveillance.' Vehicle Behavior Analysis The ProSecure system utilizes the Private Local AI agent to detect, analyze and respond to suspicious activity happening near the user's car or truck. Flagged behavior includes an intruder shining a flashlight inside a car in search of valuables left on the car seat, or a stranger pulling on a door handle to determine whether the vehicle is unlocked. Once the ProSecure system detects those types of suspicious actions, an automatic alert is sent to police to catch suspects before they can get away. Porch Pirate Protection The advanced AI integrated into the ProSecure system also provides proactive protection from porch pirates targeting deliveries to users' homes. The ProSecure system can quickly scan clothes, behavior and posture to separate the friendly courier dropping off a package from a porch pirate seeking to steal that same package. Once the suspected thief has picked up the delivery, an instant alert is sent to police to stop the theft as quickly as possible. Industry-first Tri-Cam NVR-PoE Cameras with 24/7 Recording Capabilities Tri-Cam Bullet/PTZ camera Bullet cam – 4K resolution PTZ cam – 2.5K resolution 360° pan and tilt flexibility to eliminate blind spots 8x digital Zoom (5x digital + 3x optical) with full clarity up to 65.6 feet (20 meters) away Seamless live cross-camera tracking to capture movement on multiple eufy cameras at the same time Network Video Recorder (NVR) includes 2 TB onboard memory — expandable up to 16 TB 24/7 NVR recording for up to 16 channels at a time AI-ISP Color Night Vision No monthly subscription fees to store or access video Expandable accessories including long-range video transmission up to 1.25 miles (2.01 km) Pricing and Availability The eufy Tri-Cam and NVR hardware (four cameras and one NVR) with the live cross camera tracking feature is currently available for pre-order on for $1,299. Full retail availability and timing of the NVR hardware will be announced at a later date. The advanced Private Local AI Agent capabilities will launch later this year to further enhance the power and accuracy of the NVR-PoE hardware. More information on the eufy ProSecure system is available at About eufy eufy smart home products and technologies – including home and property security devices and services and smart cleaning solutions – deliver expert protection and deep-cleaning capabilities tailored to your lifestyle. eufy looks beyond functional performance to meet the needs and enrich the lives of the people you care about the most. Care is what makes a house a home, and everything we build is 'Built With Care' for you. Find more information at Attachments Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
Business Upturn
24-04-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
eufy Introduces its First Professional Monitoring Security System and Selects Rapid Response Monitoring to Deliver Best-in-Class 24/7 Professional Monitoring Services to eufy Customers
Bellevue, Washington, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — eufy, a global leader in home security technology and smart appliances by Anker Innovations, today announced the upcoming availability of the ExpertSecure system, the world's first security solution with 24/7 monitoring supported by both Local AI technology and live surveillance experts. eufy has selected Rapid Response Monitoring to deliver professional monitoring for eufy's line of security products and customers. The professional monitoring service can be added to a wide range of eufy indoor and outdoor devices including security cameras, as well as motion, entry, smoke, and floor sensors. 'The ExpertSecure system is designed to deliver end-to-end protection of our customers' homes,' said Frank Zhu, General Manager of eufy. 'Pairing this new system with Rapid Response – a proven and trusted leader in the professional monitoring of millions of homes – was an easy choice to make. eufy and Rapid Response share the same commitment to safeguard our customers with the highest level of protection and care.' Advanced Local AI Performance The system's advanced AI Model, known as the 'Private Local AI Agent,' can perform real-time identification, shape analysis and behavior monitoring to assess risk levels (e.g., familiar visitors vs. loitering intruders), set off proactive light and siren alerts, as well as transmit notifications to Rapid Response to help intercept external threats to the customer's home. The ExpertSecure system's advanced AI can accurately identify suspicious outdoor activity (e.g., trespassing, vandalism) to ensure a faster response to critical threats while reducing false alarms and disruptive notifications. In addition, the Private Local AI Agent can precisely comprehend the scene, promptly detecting dangerous behaviors and emergencies. After rapidly assessing the risk level, it triggers effective responses to prevent potential hazards before they happen. Always On Reliability – HomeBase Professional S1 The ExpertSecure system also marks the debut of the HomeBase Professional S1. Top features and capabilities of this powerful data hub include: High-speed LTE connections and dual 4G compatibility Support for eufy Power over Ethernet (PoE) cameras, HDMI video wall displays and Zigbee smart home sensors 32 GB of onboard storage and expandable memory up to 16 TB Local data processing and storage for users' complete data control 24-hour backup energy during power outages Once enrolled, Rapid Response's professional monitoring service is always on, as well. Rapid Response's Monitoring Specialists each complete an extensive training program to ensure they respond with urgency and confidence when any emergency or threatening event takes place. Pricing and Availability Pricing and retail availability of the eufy ExpertSecure System will be shared at a separate date. The advanced Private Local AI Agent capabilities will launch later this year to further enhance the power and accuracy of the ExpertSecure System. More information on the ExpertSecure system is available at About eufy eufy smart home products and technologies – including home and property security devices and services and smart cleaning solutions – deliver expert protection and deep-cleaning capabilities tailored to your lifestyle. eufy looks beyond functional performance to meet the needs and enrich the lives of the people you care about the most. Care is what makes a house a home, and everything we build is 'Built With Care' for you. Find more information at About Rapid Response Monitoring Founded in 1992, Rapid Response Monitoring is the largest independent provider of professional alarm monitoring services in North America, with three Monitoring Centers in the USA. In partnership with its network of alarm Dealers, Integrators, and Installers, Rapid Response protects the lives and properties of millions of customers across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Employing the latest technology, Rapid Response exceeds all industry standards and delivers monitoring services 100% in-facility from fully redundant offices in Syracuse, NY, Corona, CA, and Henderson, NV. Rapid Response is dedicated to delivering the most advanced and impactful monitoring solutions available anywhere. They are the first and currently only third-party professional monitoring center to earn the Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) listing for the AVS-01 Alarm Validation Scoring Standard (UL-CAVS). Communicating AVS-01 scores to authorities during dispatch results in enhanced protection, reduced calls for service, and increased customer satisfaction. To learn more visit: Attachments eufy ExpertSecure System image 1 eufy ExpertSecure System image 2 Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
eufy Introduces its First Professional Monitoring Security System and Selects Rapid Response Monitoring to Deliver Best-in-Class 24/7 Professional Monitoring Services to eufy Customers
eufy ExpertSecure System image 1 eufy ExpertSecure System image 2 Bellevue, Washington, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- eufy, a global leader in home security technology and smart appliances by Anker Innovations, today announced the upcoming availability of the ExpertSecure system, the world's first security solution with 24/7 monitoring supported by both Local AI technology and live surveillance experts. eufy has selected Rapid Response Monitoring to deliver professional monitoring for eufy's line of security products and customers. The professional monitoring service can be added to a wide range of eufy indoor and outdoor devices including security cameras, as well as motion, entry, smoke, and floor sensors. "The ExpertSecure system is designed to deliver end-to-end protection of our customers' homes," said Frank Zhu, General Manager of eufy. "Pairing this new system with Rapid Response - a proven and trusted leader in the professional monitoring of millions of homes - was an easy choice to make. eufy and Rapid Response share the same commitment to safeguard our customers with the highest level of protection and care." Advanced Local AI Performance The system's advanced AI Model, known as the 'Private Local AI Agent,' can perform real-time identification, shape analysis and behavior monitoring to assess risk levels (e.g., familiar visitors vs. loitering intruders), set off proactive light and siren alerts, as well as transmit notifications to Rapid Response to help intercept external threats to the customer's home. The ExpertSecure system's advanced AI can accurately identify suspicious outdoor activity (e.g., trespassing, vandalism) to ensure a faster response to critical threats while reducing false alarms and disruptive notifications. In addition, the Private Local AI Agent can precisely comprehend the scene, promptly detecting dangerous behaviors and emergencies. After rapidly assessing the risk level, it triggers effective responses to prevent potential hazards before they On Reliability - HomeBase Professional S1 The ExpertSecure system also marks the debut of the HomeBase Professional S1. Top features and capabilities of this powerful data hub include: High-speed LTE connections and dual 4G compatibility Support for eufy Power over Ethernet (PoE) cameras, HDMI video wall displays and Zigbee smart home sensors 32 GB of onboard storage and expandable memory up to 16 TB Local data processing and storage for users' complete data control 24-hour backup energy during power outages Once enrolled, Rapid Response's professional monitoring service is always on, as well. Rapid Response's Monitoring Specialists each complete an extensive training program to ensure they respond with urgency and confidence when any emergency or threatening event takes place. Pricing and Availability Pricing and retail availability of the eufy ExpertSecure System will be shared at a separate date. The advanced Private Local AI Agent capabilities will launch later this year to further enhance the power and accuracy of the ExpertSecure information on the ExpertSecure system is available at About eufy eufy smart home products and technologies - including home and property security devices and services and smart cleaning solutions - deliver expert protection and deep-cleaning capabilities tailored to your lifestyle. eufy looks beyond functional performance to meet the needs and enrich the lives of the people you care about the most. Care is what makes a house a home, and everything we build is "Built With Care" for you. Find more information at About Rapid Response Monitoring Founded in 1992, Rapid Response Monitoring is the largest independent provider of professional alarm monitoring services in North America, with three Monitoring Centers in the USA. In partnership with its network of alarm Dealers, Integrators, and Installers, Rapid Response protects the lives and properties of millions of customers across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Employing the latest technology, Rapid Response exceeds all industry standards and delivers monitoring services 100% in-facility from fully redundant offices in Syracuse, NY, Corona, CA, and Henderson, NV. Rapid Response is dedicated to delivering the most advanced and impactful monitoring solutions available anywhere. They are the first and currently only third-party professional monitoring center to earn the Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) listing for the AVS-01 Alarm Validation Scoring Standard (UL-CAVS). Communicating AVS-01 scores to authorities during dispatch results in enhanced protection, reduced calls for service, and increased customer satisfaction. To learn more visit: Attachments eufy ExpertSecure System image 1 eufy ExpertSecure System image 2 CONTACT: Brett White eufy in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Local HUD workers terminated in recent Trump administration cuts
Frank Zhu had only been at his job with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for about six weeks but could already see himself making a career out of it. Zhu was then blindsided in the middle of a work call when he received an email saying he was terminated from his role on Feb. 14. As a Chicago-based financial analyst in HUD's Office of Public Housing, Zhu provided guidance to public housing authorities related to their financial health, including their use of federal dollars. 'I was very disturbed and horrified and, above all, livid,' Zhu said, who said he took a pay cut to join HUD. Zhu is one of at least 20 employees in HUD's American Federation of Government Employees Local 911 union, which includes workers in Chicago, Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio, and workers stationed in the area from HUD's headquarters in Washington, D.C., who recently received termination notices as part of President Donald Trump's administration's efforts to cull the federal workforce to reduce spending. A dozen of these employees received termination notices Monday, effective March 28, and work in the local Office of Field Policy and Management, according to a national reduction in force notice sent to Local 911. This will wipe out the entire local department apart from managers, the union said. These employees are tasked with communicating with the public, receiving hundreds of calls and visits daily, the union said. They also handle public records requests and are the intermediaries between HUD, elected officials and external stakeholders. These 20 workers were probationary employees across various HUD departments. Probationary employees are new hires or people starting new positions within a federal agency, a status typically lasting one to two years. HUD did not respond to a Tribune request for comment. HUD Secretary Scott Turner announced in a video on social media Feb. 13 that a task force from billionaire Tesla founder Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency had launched at HUD. 'With the help of DOGE, we will identify and eliminate all waste, fraud and abuse,' said Turner, a former NFL player, in the video, adding that $260 million in savings had already been identified. National news outlets have challenged some of the Trump administration's reported billions of dollars in savings. That same week, a document circulated among HUD workers that was reported on by national news outlets and obtained by the Tribune showing HUD's workforce could be halved. It indicates the total agency headcount at about 8,300 as of Jan. 21, with some departments slated for more drastic staff reductions than others. Prior to the terminations, AFGE's Local 911 represented 512 employees, 406 of which were in the Chicago field office. Veronica Bobbitt, president of Local 911, said it has been hard to get information about staffing cuts from management. Antonio Gaines, president of AFGE's National Council 222, the group that represents 40 local HUD unions nationwide, said his organization has repeatedly requested to meet with the new administration's transition team without success. He said he has also reached out to members of Congress and is pursuing legal actions. 'We are exhausting all available resources to try to push back against these efforts,' Gaines said. Politics | 'We are the patriots': Chicago federal employees protest mass firings in Federal Plaza Politics | High-ranking Chicago Housing Authority director fired amid ongoing staff exodus Bobbitt said that while probationary employees do have fewer workplace protections, they are still being wrongly terminated. For the latest reduction in force notice, she said management did not conduct a retention and seniority report to determine who to lay off based on the newest employees and instead just 'arbitrarily' terminated workers and did so without providing the proper document for these workers to apply for Illinois unemployment benefits. Terminated employees who spoke with the Tribune fear their work will now not get done or remaining team members who already have full plates will have to shoulder the burden. They say that while these cuts were done in an effort to make the government more efficient, it will do the opposite. Gabrielle Cole was another Chicago-based probationary employee who recently lost her job in HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. In her role, she was primarily focused on fair housing investigations that looked into how systemic issues such as redlining continue to negatively affect certain groups of people and their housing choices. She said she does not think her work will get done as the department was already 'slightly' understaffed. Cole said they had a 'ginormous' backlog of complaints. 'It had been all hands on deck the past months,' Cole said. 'We were doing a really good job of getting that down. There have been more fair housing complaints than ever before in the last two years, probably the most there have ever been.' A current Chicago-based staffer in the same office as Cole who spoke on the condition of anonymity given that he is still employed with the agency confirmed that his office has already struggled with inadequate staffing levels to handle the large volume of complaints that Cole cited. They receive complaints alleging discrimination under the Fair Housing Act and, as of 2023, the Violence Against Women Act, for victims of domestic violence who face housing discrimination as a result. The office spent the past year, he said, working through a backlog in the thousands. The terminations will and the proposed cuts would 'cripple our ability to do our job,' he said. Bobbitt said five attorneys were included in the probationary cuts Feb. 14. She said these workers ensure closings for Federal Housing Administration loans, litigate 'program-specific issues such as below-standard physical inspections and unsafe living conditions for all subsidized properties in our region' and facilitate in-house legal matters such as union grievances and reasonable accommodation requests from staff. Bobbitt thinks the administration is intentionally gutting the legal office to 'ensure that the union's contract is not upheld' because there will not be enough staff to meet the needs. Gaines said that on top of the terminations, about 600 HUD employees nationwide took the buyout offer. Dan Burke, HUD's former Chicago-based director of the multifamily division for the Midwest region who retired in 2023, said if the 50% reduction in force ends up materializing for HUD, the life of residents and communities in Chicago and around the country will be 'devastated.' 'It will be the case that needed funding and needed services will not be delivered to very low income people,' Burke said. 'The workload is so substantial that no matter how they cut the staffing in terms of which divisions, there is just too much work to be done.' Jayna Lennon worked out of HUD's Illinois field office based in Chicago and was in a meeting about HUD's new mandatory in-office work policy when she received her termination notice; she turned to her supervisor and they excused themselves from the meeting. 'It was so jarring,' Lennon said, who cried 'a lot' that day. Lennon worked in the field policy office that she described as the 'front door of HUD.' When residents, congressional delegations, local governments, homeless organizations and others have questions about the agency and its resources, Lennon was one of the workers to help guide them to the answers. She estimates that in her roughly one year at HUD, she spoke with more than 1,500 residents, referring them to various agency resources. She said her team had a heavy workload. As a younger employee, it was 'really exciting' to come into this line of work. Lennon said everyone she worked with at HUD was 'so passionate and so motivated and made me fall in love with the housing field.' But, she said, she is now 'cut off' during a time when there is an escalating housing crisis. 'It is critical that people are coordinating the resources that are out there and that everybody is moving in the same direction,' Lennon said, ' … (to) incrementally make this problem better … and it is hard to see how the problem isn't going to continue to get worse now.' ekane@
Chicago Tribune
26-02-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Local HUD workers terminated in recent Trump administration cuts
Frank Zhu had only been at his job with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for about six weeks but could already see himself making a career out of it. Zhu was then blindsided in the middle of a work call when he received an email saying he was terminated from his role on Feb. 14. As a Chicago-based financial analyst in HUD's Office of Public Housing, Zhu provided guidance to public housing authorities related to their financial health, including their use of federal dollars. 'I was very disturbed and horrified and, above all, livid,' Zhu said, who said he took a pay cut to join HUD. Zhu is one of at least 20 employees in HUD's American Federation of Government Employees Local 911 union, which includes workers in Chicago, Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio, and workers stationed in the area from HUD's headquarters in Washington, D.C., who recently received termination notices as part of President Donald Trump's administration's efforts to cull the federal workforce to reduce spending. A dozen of these employees received termination notices Monday, effective March 28, and work in the local Office of Field Policy and Management, according to a national reduction in force notice sent to Local 911. This will wipe out the entire local department apart from managers, the union said. These employees are tasked with communicating with the public, receiving hundreds of calls and visits daily, the union said. They also handle public records requests and are the intermediaries between HUD, elected officials and external stakeholders. These 20 workers were probationary employees across various HUD departments. Probationary employees are new hires or people starting new positions within a federal agency, a status typically lasting one to two years. HUD did not respond to a Tribune request for comment. HUD Secretary Scott Turner announced in a video on social media Feb. 13 that a task force from billionaire Tesla founder Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency had launched at HUD. 'With the help of DOGE, we will identify and eliminate all waste, fraud and abuse,' said Turner, a former NFL player, in the video, adding that $260 million in savings had already been identified. National news outlets have challenged some of the Trump administration's reported billions of dollars in savings. That same week, a document circulated among HUD workers that was reported on by national news outlets and obtained by the Tribune showing HUD's workforce could be halved. It indicates the total agency headcount at about 8,300 as of Jan. 21, with some departments slated for more drastic staff reductions than others. Prior to the terminations, AFGE's Local 911 represented 512 employees, 406 of which were in the Chicago field office. Veronica Bobbitt, president of Local 911, said it has been hard to get information about staffing cuts from management. Antonio Gaines, president of AFGE's National Council 222, the group that represents 40 local HUD unions nationwide, said his organization has repeatedly requested to meet with the new administration's transition team without success. He said he has also reached out to members of Congress and is pursuing legal actions. 'We are exhausting all available resources to try to push back against these efforts,' Gaines said. Bobbitt said that while probationary employees do have fewer workplace protections, they are still being wrongly terminated. For the latest reduction in force notice, she said management did not conduct a retention and seniority report to determine who to lay off based on the newest employees and instead just 'arbitrarily' terminated workers and did so without providing the proper document for these workers to apply for Illinois unemployment benefits. Terminated employees who spoke with the Tribune fear their work will now not get done or remaining team members who already have full plates will have to shoulder the burden. They say that while these cuts were done in an effort to make the government more efficient, it will do the opposite. Gabrielle Cole was another Chicago-based probationary employee who recently lost her job in HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. In her role, she was primarily focused on fair housing investigations that looked into how systemic issues such as redlining continue to negatively affect certain groups of people and their housing choices. She said she does not think her work will get done as the department was already 'slightly' understaffed. Cole said they had a 'ginormous' backlog of complaints. 'It had been all hands on deck the past months,' Cole said. 'We were doing a really good job of getting that down. There have been more fair housing complaints than ever before in the last two years, probably the most there have ever been.' A current Chicago-based staffer in the same office as Cole who spoke on the condition of anonymity given that he is still employed with the agency confirmed that his office has already struggled with inadequate staffing levels to handle the large volume of complaints that Cole cited. They receive complaints alleging discrimination under the Fair Housing Act and, as of 2023, the Violence Against Women Act, for victims of domestic violence who face housing discrimination as a result. The office spent the past year, he said, working through a backlog in the thousands. The terminations will and the proposed cuts would 'cripple our ability to do our job,' he said. Bobbitt said five attorneys were included in the probationary cuts Feb. 14. She said these workers ensure closings for Federal Housing Administration loans, litigate 'program-specific issues such as below-standard physical inspections and unsafe living conditions for all subsidized properties in our region' and facilitate in-house legal matters such as union grievances and reasonable accommodation requests from staff. Bobbitt thinks the administration is intentionally gutting the legal office to 'ensure that the union's contract is not upheld' because there will not be enough staff to meet the needs. Gaines said that on top of the terminations, about 600 HUD employees nationwide took the buyout offer. Dan Burke, HUD's former Chicago-based director of the multifamily division for the Midwest region who retired in 2023, said if the 50% reduction in force ends up materializing for HUD, the life of residents and communities in Chicago and around the country will be 'devastated.' 'It will be the case that needed funding and needed services will not be delivered to very low income people,' Burke said. 'The workload is so substantial that no matter how they cut the staffing in terms of which divisions, there is just too much work to be done.' Jayna Lennon worked out of HUD's Illinois field office based in Chicago and was in a meeting about HUD's new mandatory in-office work policy when she received her termination notice; she turned to her supervisor and they excused themselves from the meeting. 'It was so jarring,' Lennon said, who cried 'a lot' that day. Lennon worked in the field policy office that she described as the 'front door of HUD.' When residents, congressional delegations, local governments, homeless organizations and others have questions about the agency and its resources, Lennon was one of the workers to help guide them to the answers. She estimates that in her roughly one year at HUD, she spoke with more than 1,500 residents, referring them to various agency resources. She said her team had a heavy workload. As a younger employee, it was 'really exciting' to come into this line of work. Lennon said everyone she worked with at HUD was 'so passionate and so motivated and made me fall in love with the housing field.' But, she said, she is now 'cut off' during a time when there is an escalating housing crisis. 'It is critical that people are coordinating the resources that are out there and that everybody is moving in the same direction,' Lennon said, ' … (to) incrementally make this problem better … and it is hard to see how the problem isn't going to continue to get worse now.'
