France tests AI-powered drones to prevent drowning incidents

French authorities are testing drones equipped with artificial intelligence to monitor people at risk of drowning and deploy lifebuoys when necessary, amid a rise in drowning incidents following three consecutive heatwaves since May. From a drone hovering just steps from Valescure Beach in southern France, a recorded voice can be heard saying: “If you are in danger, we will throw you a lifebuoy.” Over a period of two and a half months, 274 people drowned in the sea, rivers, or private swimming pools. Near Béziers, on the Mediterranean coast, Instadron, a company specializing in drone operations in industrial environments, is seeking to expand its activities to include monitoring swimming areas. These tests could secure the necessary licenses within a month, paving the way for full implementation of the project by summer 2027. Cedric Boutela, founder of Instadron, told Agence France-Presse: “Drone-deployed lifebuoys have been used for five years in the Landes region, but the process was manual. We are providing a fully automated system.”