NORAD and Google update Santa tracking platforms with AI

As Christmas Eve approaches, parents will probably hear questions from children about Santa’s location. To answer these queries, families can turn to digital tracking services, which have received new technology updates this year. Both platforms have expanded their interactive features to offer more than just a map.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which launched the first Santa tracker in 1955, has partnered with OpenAI to integrate new AI-powered features into its platform. These new tools, available in Santa’s North Pole Village, include:

• An image generator that transforms user selfies into animated elf characters.
• A tool for generating toy ideas and converting them into printable coloring book pages.
• A fill-in-the-blank storytelling tool that allows families to customize holiday stories to read aloud.

To display Santa’s journey across the world, the NORAD platform utilizes Cesium’s 3D mapping library and Bing Maps satellite imagery to create a realistic globe. Along with the 3D tracker, the website features a “Santa Cam” showing video clips of Santa’s journey, arcade-style games, music, and an online library. The tracking website is accessible in multiple languages, including Chinese, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, Italian, and Portuguese. For those who prefer a direct update, users can call the organization’s call center at 1-877-446-6732 to speak with a volunteer, or access the service via official mobile apps and social media platforms.

Google, which launched its competing Santa Tracker in 2004, continues to offer its own interactive holiday service. The platform simulates Santa’s journey with a live map showing his current location, next stop, estimated arrival times, and the number of presents delivered. Throughout December, Google’s platform operates as Santa’s Village, featuring coding tutorials like “Code Boogie” and creative games like “Elf Maker.” The service also integrates with Google Assistant, allowing users to ask for updates on Santa’s location, call Santa, or listen to a simulated newscast from the North Pole.

Why it matters

NORAD and Google are leveraging AI to modernize long-standing holiday traditions. By integrating these tools, the organizations are transforming static tracking maps into interactive, personalized experiences for families around the world.