TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A five-person startup in Taoyuan is making waves with Taiwan’s largest AI drowning detection system, now in use across 20 venues from Taipei to Okinawa.

Developed by Fortune AI Technologies, their Safe Swim system uses AI-powered video recognition to detect drowning risks and alert lifeguards in real time, acting as a second set of eyes in crowded pools, per CNA.

Founded in 2021 by Fortune AI CEO Chen Ching-ju (陳靖儒) while still a graduate student, the company grew out of a failed attempt to develop an AI tool for basketball highlight editing. A comment from a sports center staffer helped Chen pivot to swimming safety.

Safe Swim analyzes swimmers’ motion, distance, and submersion time to flag anomalies. If someone stays underwater for more than 30 seconds, an alert is triggered.

On-screen, swimmers appear as dots; a red dot signals trouble, prompting flashing lights and an alarm to guide lifeguards. The system also logs high-risk zones and saves video for review.

Chen said the system is designed for minimal intrusion and easy setup, requiring only cameras, a monitor, and light signals. Unlike traditional AI that struggles with unpredictable scenarios, Safe Swim integrates multimodal AI to better handle real-world incidents.

Launched in 2023, Safe Swim is now installed at venues in Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Okinawa. The company is preparing to expand into open waters like lakes and rivers, where lifeguards are often absent.

Chen says he sees promise in the US home pool market but added technical refinement comes first. “I’m more cautious now,” he said. “We are focused on getting it right in Asia before going global.”