AUSTIN — By Stephanie Forward, AI Bee Reel Staff

February 21, 2026

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Local father Greg Miller attempted to quietly peel a mozzarella stick at 2:14 a.m. Tuesday, only to have his Ring app instantly blast a “SUSPECT SPOTTED WITH CHEESE STICK” notification to the entire Homeowners Association. Neighbors arrived within seconds, shining flashlights through the kitchen window while Miller stood frozen in his boxers holding the snack.

“We realized limiting alerts to just lost dogs was too narrow,” said Marcus Thorne, Ring VP of Neighborhood Watching. “According to leaked emails, our CEO Jamie Siminoff indicated the Search Party feature isn’t just for pets anymore. If a dad breaks his diet in the middle of the night, the community has a right to know.”

The company claims this new level of transparency keeps streets safe from unauthorized calories. “Our AI can now distinguish between a cat and a midnight snacker with 99% accuracy,” explained Director of Public Shaming, Brenda Watcher. “It allows neighbors to form a posse to intercept the snack before digestion begins. This is about accountability.”

At press time, Ring announced a partnership with local gyms to automatically unlock the front door if the smart fridge detects a second slice of pizza.

Inspired by the real story: Ring executives have hinted that their controversial “Search Party” missing pet feature may expand to track other things soon. Read the full story.