This AI tool uses biometrics to replace pet microchipping

I was recently a nanny for a relative and was in charge of the care of three dogs. As we reviewed the house rules, the topic of pet safety came up – and what started as a conversation about microchipping ended up in a conversation about artificial intelligence and its use in monitoring the whereabouts and well-being of pets.

I hadn’t given much thought to how (or if) AI would be implemented in pet technology. But then again, why wouldn’t it? It’s being implemented seemingly everywhere else. This got me on track Petnowan AI-powered technology company that uses a biometric scan of the noses of dogs and cats to keep them identified and safe.

The AI-powered platform was named “Best of Innovation” at the 2022 CES Innovation Awards and was founded in 2018 by Jesse Joonho Lim with the intention of being a replacement for existing pet identification methods such as microchips, tags and collars.

According to Petnow, it has developed an AI platform that automatically captures your dog’s biometric information by scanning it with your phone’s camera, using nose prints for dogs and more of the face for cats. The company said so deep learning model extracts biometric information for the identification of an individual pet.

Currently free to its users, Petnow is available in 16 countries, most recently launching in Australia and New Zealand. The company says the app is a 99.9% accuracy rate for pet identification and verification.

Petnow also creates and sends alerts to neighbors when a pet goes missing and features PetWay, a community-driven feature in the app to help members reunite with lost pets.

How to use Petnow to create a biometric ID for your pet

Step 1: You must set up a profile for your dog or cat in the app. The information required includes five untouched photos of the animal’s entire body, plus its name, breed, sex and date of birth.

Step 2: Once your animal’s profile has been created, choose to begin the nose print scanning process. (To complete this step, you will need access to your pet.) In a well-lit area, move your phone slightly back and forth across (about a foot away) from your pet’s nose and the AI ​​scan will begin generate. (There’s also a tips section at the top right of the screen if you’re having trouble.)

Step 3: Once your nose print scan is complete, your pet’s biometric information will be recorded in the profile your pet created and a verification will be performed against your pet’s identity. You can also request a nose print ID with your pet’s personal registration number.

Then you’re ready to use the app in the real world. You can report your missing pet or report a missing pet sighting via a photo or biometric nose print scan in Petnow’s app. (It is not labeled as PetWay as on the website.)

Within the app you can also access Petnow Tips, a blog that answers frequently asked questions or concerns about dogs and cats, an FAQ section that talks more about how AI works to optimize the pet identification process, and an incredibly vague statement that your data is safe. , although there is no explanation How that’s done.

Should You Use Petnow to Protect Your Pets?

Although the company was founded in 2018, the app wasn’t launched until 2023. Probably because it’s so new, I couldn’t find any case studies or testimonials on whether Petnow is an effective replacement for other pet ID technology like microchips.

Following the business model of more recent pet-tech CES Innovation Award winners, I would feel more comfortable with Petnow if it offered a membership plan – at least then the profits could go towards building out the technology and platform .

Given the lack of data on Petnow, it’s difficult to know how effective it is. I don’t quite understand how a quick photo scan of my pet’s nose keeps him safe… and protects the privacy of pet owners at the same time.

Final Thoughts: Petnow feels like an AI-powered, cat- and dog-focused Nextdoor app that needs to mature to battle what reads as a well-intentioned but underdeveloped solution for pet owners around the world. If you decide to use it, I recommend not skipping the chipping just yet.