Ugreen is moving from chargers and network-attached storage into the smart home with HomeAgent, a local-first platform built around an AI hub. The Verge reports that Ugreen launched the system this week at the IFA tech show, while Tom's Guide says it saw the system at a September 1 preview event. The product pitch is a single box that acts as storage, security-camera recorder and smart-home brain. According to The Verge, HomeAgent combines a network-attached storage system, a security-camera network video recorder, an on-device AI assistant and smart-home control. Tom's Guide similarly describes the core hub as essentially a NAS drive with AI, able to store photos and videos while analyzing footage and triggering smart-home devices. Ugreen's voice layer is called Uliya. Both outlets report that users can interact with the system through voice and natural-language requests, including smart-home control and automations. The Verge says it saw a demo in which Uliya controlled Nanoleaf lights and smart blinds through the HomeAgent hub. The system comes in three hub configurations. Tom's Guide names the HA100, HA100 Pro and MasterAgent MA100, with each step adding more AI capability. The base HA100 is described as providing storage, smart security, basic smart-home control and object identification. The HA100 Pro adds more advanced recognition and natural-language automation creation. The Verge reports that the top-line version includes Nvidia Jetson Thor, while Tom's Guide says the MA100 is designed to run larger models and support developer-created skills. The key technical and commercial promise is that the home data stays local. The Verge reports that each configuration stores data locally and processes video on-device, with the caveat that Ugreen describes the approach as local-first. Tom's Guide says HomeAgent can analyze security-camera footage, backed-up photos and videos, and events around the home. Both outlets say the system is meant to reduce reliance on cloud processing and recurring storage subscriptions. The feature set is aimed at camera-heavy households as much as smart-home enthusiasts. The Verge says Ugreen is promising cross-camera tracking, alerts for people, vehicles, pets and packages, AI-powered video search, text descriptions of events and live status questions such as locating a pet. Tom's Guide reports similar recognition and alerting features, and adds that the level of detail depends on the hub: the base model can identify pets in a more limited way than higher-end configurations. Compatibility is still a practical question. The Verge reports that the HomeAgent hub is a Matter controller and will support third-party devices over Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Thread, Bluetooth, near-field communication, ONVIF/RTSP and Power over Ethernet. It also says Ugreen plans to publish a compatibility list that is currently small, including devices from Aqara, ThirdReality, SwitchBot and Eve, and that the first phase supports lights, switches, sensors and curtains. Pricing remains unresolved from the supplied reporting. Tom's Guide says the system will not come cheap and refers to expensive top-end devices, but the provided material does not include specific prices. The Verge says full retail pricing has not been announced and that HomeAgent is slated to launch on Kickstarter in October with discounted early-bird pricing. Who benefits: Privacy-sensitive smart-home users and households with local camera storage needs stand to benefit if Ugreen delivers the local processing it is promising. Ugreen also benefits by extending its NAS business into a higher-value home platform. Who's exposed: Cloud-centric smart-home services and subscription camera-storage products face more pressure if local-first hubs become easier to use. Buyers are exposed to higher upfront hardware costs and a still-limited compatibility list, according to the supplied reporting.