GoPro has a new AI-tracking gimbal that works with smartphones

It’s been a big month for action camera companies. Insta360 announced a tiny new action camera at the end of August. DJI just announced its competitor to that camera today. And now GoPro has responded with not just one, but two new action camera announcements.

However, GoPro had more to announce than just an action camera. The company also introduced a brand new device to its product lineup, an AI tracking gimbal called the Fluid Pro AI.

Launching in stores on October 21, the Fluid Pro AI will use AI technology in order to lock on to a subject’s face or body to automatically track the individual to make sure they are always in frame. 

The 3-axis gimbal can be utilized by the user to track both forward or rear-facing subjects, meaning the gimbal can be used for selfie videos as well. The Fluid Pro AI can also pan and rotate a full 360 degrees as well as tilt upward up to 320 degrees. There’s also an integrated fill light built into the device.

However, what’s most interesting here is that GoPro has decided to make its handheld camera stabilizer accessible to those who don’t even have a GoPro. While GoPro owners can use their action camera with the Fluid Pro AI, it also works with most any device up to 400 grams. This includes smartphones like the iPhone and point-and-shoot cameras. This means that the Fluid Pro AI can be used with popular vlogger cameras like the Sony ZV-1. That sets it apart from similar gimbals from DJI or Insta360, which are made primarily for phones.

According to GoPro, the Fluid Pro AI can be used for up to 18 hours of runtime and can also be used as an external power bank for the device that it’s holding. 

The Fluid Pro AI will be available next month for $229.99. While this price point makes it more expensive than most competitors, it’s also packed with a lot more features, has a much longer battery life, and can be used with multiple camera types. And, of course, the precision of its AI tracking technology will be a major factor in deciding if it’s worthy of the higher price.