Researchers in Australia develop AI tool to identify dangerous rip currents

SYDNEY, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Researchers in Australia have developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered mobile tool that can identify potential rip currents from beach photographs.

The RipEye project combines an AI tool that can analyze images of surf conditions and identify potential rip currents within seconds with an interactive game designed to help people learn how to spot the dangerous currents, according to a statement of Australia's University of New South Wales released Wednesday.

Rip currents remain one of Australia's deadliest beach hazards, contributing to 47 percent of the 66 beach drowning deaths recorded in the 2025 National Drowning Report.

Researchers trained the AI model using thousands of beach images, including data from more than 10,000 images of rip currents collected at different beaches.

While the tool can correctly detect a rip around 80 percent of the time, researchers stressed that it cannot guarantee an area of water is safe.

The tool will be trialed with selected Surf Life Saving Australia clubs this summer, with the aim of eventually using it to support public beach safety education and lifesaving operations.