Science & Tech · AI · 4 hrs ago
AI tool Raven can use interior photos to locate properties
Raven uses details in interior photos to suggest a property's location by matching them with images and information found online.
The tool, developed by Graylark, has been used by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office.
It was previously called GeoSpy and was first designed to identify locations from landmarks.
Police have used Raven to help investigate human trafficking, though the tool can only identify a property when similar images and location information are already online.
The demonstration showed it using data from sites including Airbnb, Zillow and Vrbo.
Those sites have raised concerns about data use: Airbnb is reviewing the situation, while Zillow says scraping its data violates its terms.
The technology raises privacy concerns because an interior photo could reveal where someone lives or works.
Wider use may depend on addressing regional privacy laws and building partnerships with the companies whose data Raven uses.
Raven is an AI tool that uses interior photos to help identify a property’s location by matching fixtures, fittings and decorative details with information online.
The tool has been used by the LAPD and the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, mainly to tackle human trafficking.
Raven can identify a property if its address and similar interior photos are already available online.
The software was previously known as GeoSpy and was initially designed to identify locations from landmarks.
Airbnb and Zillow have raised concerns or taken action over the use of data from their sites.
- Who
- Raven, developed by Graylark, and law enforcement agencies including the LAPD and Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office.
- What
- An AI tool matches details in interior photos with online information to suggest a property’s location.
- When
- TechRadar published its report on 2026-10-23.
- Where
- The tool has been used by law enforcement in Florida and California; it can search for properties listed online.
- Why
- Investigators may use interior photos as leads in cases such as human trafficking.
Raven developers and law enforcement
Websites concerned about data use
Privacy and data use
Raven developers and law enforcement
Raven is described as helping investigators match interior imagery to potential properties and review and verify location leads.
Websites concerned about data use
Some websites have raised concerns about how their data and images are being used; Zillow said scraping its data violated its terms of service.
Use of the tool
Raven developers and law enforcement
Raven’s developers describe it as purpose-built AI to help people find answers and protect lives.
Websites concerned about data use
The tool raises privacy challenges because it may reveal the location of a property from an interior photo.
Raven, then known as GeoSpy, was conceived to identify locations based on landmarks.
Raven was being used by the LAPD and the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, mainly in work to tackle human trafficking.
Raven attracted attention from websites it apparently uses to gather information.
- Developer
- Graylark
- Previous name
- GeoSpy
- Law enforcement users
- LAPD and Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office
- Data sources shown in the video
- Zillow, Vrbo and Airbnb
- Zillow's position
- Scraping its data was against its ToS
What people are saying
purpose-built AI for the people working to find answers and protect lives.
ability to geolocate interior images across millions of short-term rental units worldwide.
For investigators, a photo or video from inside a property may be a critical lead, but without an address or location tag, knowing where to start can be difficult. Raven helps investigators match interior imagery to potential properties, turning visual clues into location leads they can review and verify.