Search Party
Search Party uses AI to help communities find and reunite lost dogs with their owners by scanning nearby outdoor Ring camera footage for possible sightings after a missing pet is reported. When a potential match is detected, the camera owner is notified and can choose whether to share relevant snapshots or video, keeping neighbors in control while making the broader Ring network useful in an emergency. The feature expands Ring’s role from individual home security to community-powered assistance, transforming a network of cameras into a coordinated search tool that helps neighbors take meaningful action in the real world.
Role
I was the lead product designer, working directly off direct feedback with Ring's founder Jamie Siminoff to shape the product, initial designs, and prototype for presentation to Devices & Services SVP Panos Panay. I also owned subsequent AI features that spun up off of this product from the initial blue sky concept.
Impact
The feature was launched across Ring in the US in less than a year from conception, finding and reuniting more than a dog a day with its owner. Search Party was also featured in Ring’s first Super Bowl commercial, bringing the feature to a national audience.
Learnings
This product had so many touch points outside of the digital experience that had to be guided and imagined – but with the right flow and solution the journey became predictable. The grey areas that seemed the most complex in the beginning became the simplest to solve with clear calls to action.
Also – customer perception and the value received in exchange for placing trust, not just in AI, but a company is paramount.
“Good example of real-world impact, and proud of what the Ring team has built here.”
– Andy Jassy, Amazon CEO
“Definitely a foundational concept.”
– Jamie Siminoff, Ring Founder
“A ground-breaking neighborhood feature”
– David Phelan, Forbes
