20,000 hidden swimming pools found in France thanks to new AI technology

The French taxman has now raked in millions of euros from homeowners who failed to report the facilities. New AI software by Google and Capgemini is able to spot pools using aerial imagery which is then cross-checked with land registry databases. During a trial run last year looking at nine French regions the software detected more than 20,000 pools, which led to the collection of some 10 million euros in tax revenue. Since pools boost property values they usually lead to higher property and residency taxes. Private pool sales had already been surging in France before the Covid pandemic, which saw a boom in installations as millions of employees began working from home more often.