Ring’s AI-powered “Search Party” feature, which uses the company’s network of cameras to find lost dogs, is now available to all Ring customers in the United States. For the first time, the feature will also be made available to people who do not own a Ring camera.
Launched last fall, Search Party uses artificial intelligence to find possible matches for lost dogs across neighbors’ camera footage. When a neighbor reports a lost dog in the Ring app, nearby outdoor cameras use AI to scan for possible matches. If a match is found, the camera owner receives an alert and can optionally choose to share any related video clips with their neighbor who reported the pet missing. They also have the option to call the owner or send a message, without sharing their own phone number. Ring says the feature has been reuniting more than one dog per day since its launch.
Previously, Search Party was only available to customers with a Ring camera installed. The company is now making Search Party accessible to anyone through the Ring app. Ring founder Jamie Siminoff noted that now pet owners can mobilize the whole community, and communities are empowered to help, to find lost pets more effectively than ever before. He added that this is why the company believes it is so important to make this feature available to anyone who shares a lost dog post in Neighbors, referring to the company’s Neighbors app for Ring customers.
Alongside this launch and expansion, Amazon-owned Ring said it is committing one million dollars to equip animal shelters with Ring camera systems, with an aim to aid four thousand U.S. shelters. By adding the shelters to Ring’s network, the company hopes more lost dogs will be reunited with their owners. The company already works with other nonprofits, including Petco Love and Best Friends Animal Society, and is open to other partnerships.