The emergence of intelligent infrared focal plane detectors relies on advanced infrared materials, device technology and process level as well as the rapid development of integrated circuit technology and process, and it is able to adaptively adjust the working state of the detector for different scenarios, and partial signal processing functions can be realized on the detector. The emergence of intelligent infrared detectors has greatly improved the flexibility of infrared systems, while providing more accurate detection capabilities for increasingly complex detection scenarios. This paper takes the background requirements of intelligent infrared detector applications as a starting point, clarifies the development of intelligent detector necessity, and introduces the development status and future trends of intelligent infrared detectors are introduced in the end.