Fire and Rescue NSW uses AI drone to locate lost hikers

An Australian emergency service has deployed artificial intelligence-powered drones to locate missing hikers, marking a significant shift in how search-and-rescue teams operate in remote terrain where traditional methods have historically proven slow and costly. Fire and Rescue NSW's new system can scan vast wilderness areas in hours rather than days, potentially saving lives in a race against time and exposure. The deployment raises urgent questions about whether AI search technology will soon become standard equipment for rescue operations worldwide—and whether agencies are prepared for the ethical and technical challenges that come with it.

Let's Data Science·5h ago