Ring opens Search Party feature to non-camera owners

Ring, the home security company, is expanding its AI-powered Search Party feature—a tool designed to find lost pets using artificial intelligence and camera networks—to all users in the U.S. Previously, the feature was exclusive to customers who owned and installed Ring hardware. Under the new expansion, the tool is now available to all Ring customers in the country, including those who do not own a Ring camera. Anyone can now access the Search Party feature through the Ring app, allowing non-camera owners to participate in community pet searches.

The Search Party feature, which launched last fall, uses AI to scan camera footage for lost pets. When a user reports a lost dog in the app, nearby outdoor cameras use AI to scan for possible matches. If a match is found, that 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 an option to call the owner or send them a message, without sharing their own phone number. According to Ring, the feature has been reuniting more than a dog per day since its launch. Ring founder Jamie Siminoff noted that the expansion allows pet owners to “Now, pet owners can mobilize the whole community—and communities are empowered to help—to find lost pets more effectively than ever before.” Siminoff explained that this is why the company believes it is important to make the feature available to anyone who shares a lost dog post in Neighbors, which is Ring’s community alert app.

Alongside the expansion of the tool, Ring is committing $1 million to equip animal shelters with Ring camera systems. Through this initiative, the company aims to aid 4,000 U.S. shelters, integrating them into the broader network to increase the likelihood of reuniting lost dogs with their owners. This effort builds on Ring’s existing partnerships with nonprofit organizations, including Petco Love and Best Friends Animal Society, and the company remains open to other partnerships.

Why it matters

By opening its network to non-users and integrating with physical infrastructure like shelters, Ring is attempting to scale the utility of its AI-powered camera network beyond its existing customer base.