Raven AI tool geolocates interiors using rental site photos
A demo video shows Raven, a Graylark tool used by police, matching interior details to listings on Airbnb, Vrbo and Zillow.
A video demonstrating Raven, an AI tool that matches interior details in photos to pinpoint a property's location, has drawn scrutiny from rental and property sites whose data it appears to use, according to techradar.com. The tool is developed by Graylark and was previously known as GeoSpy.
Raven identifies a property by comparing features such as fixtures, fittings and towels against images in its data sources. In the demonstration, it appears to draw on data from Zillow, Vrbo and Airbnb.
Law enforcement agencies in Florida and California, including the LAPD and the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, already use the tool. According to the article, its main use so far has been in human trafficking investigations.
Zillow said scraping its data violates its terms of service. Airbnb said it is reviewing the situation.
Graylark's Daniel Heinen said the tool is purpose-built AI for people working to find answers and protect lives, and described its ability to geolocate interior images across millions of short-term rental units worldwide.
From landmarks to living rooms
Raven, formerly GeoSpy, was initially conceived to identify locations based on landmarks, according to the article.
Quick answers
What is Raven?
Raven is an AI geolocation tool developed by Graylark, formerly known as GeoSpy, that matches interior details in photos to identify a property's location.
Who uses Raven?
Law enforcement agencies in Florida and California, including the LAPD and the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, already use it, mainly in human trafficking investigations so far.
What did Airbnb and Zillow say about Raven?
Zillow said scraping its data violates its terms of service, and Airbnb said it is reviewing the situation.