Amazon's Ring cameras now use AI to locate missing dogs through a community network called Search Party. The feature, which launched in November 2025, has reunited 99 lost dogs with owners in its first three months of operation.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy highlighted the system as "a good use case for AI" after a Labrador named Lainey was found using the technology. Jassy's endorsement comes as Amazon has been significantly increasing its AI investments, with recent spending announcements driving market reactions.
When a dog goes missing, owners can activate the feature through the Ring Neighbors app. The system then uses computer vision trained on thousands of dog videos to scan compatible cameras in the area, creating temporary neighborhood networks that scan outdoor Ring camera footage for missing pets.
Search Party defaults to active on compatible devices, though users can disable it through app controls. The AI focuses on specific dog traits to minimize false positives, according to Jassy. If a neighbor's camera detects a visual match, the owner receives a notification with the option to share footage, and camera owners maintain control over whether to share footage.
The feature operates without subscription fees and works even for people who don't own Ring devices. This marks the first time Ring has opened core functionality to non-customers, expanding its ecosystem beyond hardware owners.
Ring announced the feature's nationwide expansion at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. The company also revealed $1 million in funding for animal shelters and plans to add cat detection in future updates.
More than 1 million lost or found pet reports were made on the Ring platform last year alone. The system represents a shift toward community-based security applications beyond traditional surveillance.
Ring's parent company Amazon faces ongoing privacy scrutiny, including a 2023 FTC action over children's data retention. The privacy-first design limits data sharing to specific pet sightings rather than continuous monitoring.
The technology builds on Ring's existing law enforcement partnerships. Through deals with Flock Safety and Axon Enterprise, police can request video evidence from Ring cameras, though citizens retain sharing decisions.
Ring continues positioning its cameras as neighborhood platforms rather than isolated security devices, with other recent expansions including fire detection alerts and an app store for third-party integrations.
"Before Search Party, the best you could do was drive up and down the neighborhood, shouting your dog's name in hopes of finding them."
Ring chief inventor Jamie Siminoff said in a statement that the feature allows pet owners to enlist nearby neighbors and cameras to help locate lost animals more quickly.
