# Configure AI-Powered Deterrence
**AI-powered deterrence** uses cameras to detect activity and speakers to play up to three escalating messages before raising an alarm.
* **Message 1:** Configured by you. Plays \~3 seconds after the deterrence is triggered.
* **Messages 2 and 3:** Automatically generated by AI using context from earlier messages. These play only if motion or loitering continues. If camera clarity allows, scene-specific context (e.g., "you in the red backpack") may be included.
{% hint style="info" %}
We use a variety of realistic voices during deterrence to make it feel like a real monitoring agent is watching and speaking.
{% endhint %}
{% hint style="warning" %}
* Deterrence triggers are configured separately from alarm triggers, giving you maximum control
* If deterrence is active when an alarm is triggered, it automatically escalates to an alarm
* Each camera supports one Deterrence Area trigger (Person Detection or Loitering)
{% endhint %}
{% hint style="warning" %}
AI-Powered Deterrence:
* Supports second-generation cameras or newer (models ending in “2” or higher), CF81-E cameras, intercom cameras, and third-party cameras
* Supports PTZ cameras, but the Deterrence Area trigger is limited to full-frame Person Detected
{% endhint %}
### Prerequisites
* Set up an Alarm site
* Set up at least one camera at your Alarm site
* Set up at least one speaker at your Alarm site
* Set up a camera partition
* Set up a Response
***
## Configuration
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Alarms.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Select the Alarm site that you want to configure.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**On the left navigation, select Response.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Select the response containing the camera partitions where you want to add deterrence.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Click Deterrence to open the configuration page.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Under Camera Triggers, click Edit Triggers to add a purple Deterrence Area to one or more cameras (Alarm Areas are blue).**
**Recommended configurations:**
* Draw a **Deterrence Area** with *Person Detected* and pair it with an Alarm Area with *Loitering* (1 minute) in the same region. This setup starts deterrence when someone enters the area and raises an alarm if they remain.
* Draw a **Deterrence Area** with *Loitering* (15 seconds) outside and an Alarm Area with *Person Detected* inside. This setup allows your employees to enter without triggering the deterrence.
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Under Output Devices, select one or more speakers to play Deterrence messages.**
{% hint style="info" %}
**Supported Speakers:** BZ11 horn speaker, all Verkada Intercom models.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Under Customize Warning, edit the first message if desired.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**In the top right, turn the toggle On.**
{% hint style="danger" %}
**If the toggle can’t be turned On, you are missing one of the following:**
* At least one camera with a Deterrence Area
* At least one speaker is assigned to the Alarm site
* A non-empty first message
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Deterrence occurs when the corresponding camera partition is armed, and the trigger condition is met.**
{% hint style="warning" %}
* The partition **must be armed** for deterrence to trigger.
* Deterrence ends when one of the following occurs:
* **5 minutes** of inactivity
* **15 minutes** after the initial trigger
* When the incident is **canceled** in Command
* When it **escalates** to an alarm.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
***
## Edit or remove a Deterrence Area
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Alarms.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Select the Alarm site you want to edit.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**In the left navigation, select Response.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Select the response containing the camera partitions where you want to edit or remove a Deterrence Area.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Click Deterrence to view the configuration page.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Under Camera Triggers, click Edit Triggers to manage Deterrence Areas.**
{% hint style="warning" %}
You can also hover over a camera and click the pen icon to edit or remove its Deterrence Area.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
***
## Disable a deterrence
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Alarms.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Select the Alarm site you want to configure.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**In the left navigation, select Response.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Select the response containing the camera partitions with deterrence enabled.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Click Deterrence to open the configuration page.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**In the top right, turn the toggle Off.**
{% hint style="danger" %}
**The toggle will automatically turn Off unless there is:**
* At least one camera with a Deterrence Area
* At least one speaker is assigned to the Alarm site
* A non-empty first message
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
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