Artificial Intelligence-backed drones used to spot crocs and sharks

Many fear the potential for Artificial Intelligence (AI) to be weaponised against humanity, but Australian lifesavers are showcasing the positive power of the technology with a drone that can prevent crocodile attacks. On Thursday, lifesavers in Queensland demonstrated how a drone backed by a'CrocSpotter' AI-algorithm can reveal the presence of crocs before they become a danger to humans. Developed by researchers from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in collaboration with Westpac Little Ripper and Amazon Web Services, the technology was initially designed to protect beachgoers from sharks. CrocSpotter and SharkSpotter are two of five'spotter' AI algorithms developed by The Ripper Group and UTS. In 2018, a Westpac Little Ripper drone performed the world's first rescue by a drone at Lennox Head in NSW, dropping an inflatable pod to save two teenagers in massive surf.