A new artificial-intelligence system developed in South Korea can turn a smartphone and a small LED light into a low-cost tool for detecting hidden cameras, potentially giving travelers and consumers a simple way to check hotel rooms and short-term rentals for covert recording devices.
On Aug. 31, researchers unveiled a system called SweepLED, which uses a smartphone camera, a low-cost LED attachment and AI-based image analysis to identify the distinctive reflections produced by camera lenses.
The technology was developed by researchers at KAIST in collaboration with the National University of Singapore and Singapore Management University. The research was presented at ACM MobiSys 2026, an international conference focused on mobile computing.
SweepLED works by keeping the smartphone camera fixed while directing an LED light at an object from different angles. The system analyzes how the reflected light changes as the illumination moves.
Ordinary shiny objects generally produce reflections that shift position or disappear as the angle of the light changes. A camera lens behaves differently because of the structure of its internal lenses, aperture and image sensor.
SweepLED uses a deep-learning model to recognize those distinctive changes and determine whether a reflective spot is coming from a camera lens.
The approach is different from conventional hidden-camera searches, which often depend on a person visually scanning a room for unusually bright reflections. Instead, the AI examines changes in the shape, position and movement of reflections across multiple lighting angles.
That could allow users to check everyday objects that might conceal miniature cameras, including phone chargers, desk clocks, remote controls and decorative items.
In tests involving 30 objects, the system achieved 94% detection accuracy and required less than five seconds to inspect an individual object.
Cost is another potential advantage. The core components of the LED attachment designed for a smartphone cost less than 10,000 South Korean won, or about $7.50, according to the researchers.
That price could make it feasible to develop a consumer-focused smartphone accessory rather than relying on specialized camera-detection equipment.
The technology comes as privacy concerns surrounding hidden cameras continue to affect hotels, short-term rentals and other private spaces. Conventional detection devices can be costly or require technical expertise, making them less practical for ordinary travelers.
SweepLED is designed to lower that barrier by combining inexpensive hardware with automated image analysis.
The system could eventually provide consumers with a quick way to screen unfamiliar rooms before settling in, although the researchers do not position it as a replacement for professional security inspections.
Its potential lies instead in making basic hidden-camera detection more accessible: a smartphone, a roughly $7.50 lighting attachment and AI software could provide an additional layer of privacy protection in everyday spaces.
