AI identifies undeclared swimming pools in France

AI identifies undeclared swimming pools in France

Thousands of undeclared swimming pools have been discovered in France using AI.

A pilot scheme developed by Google and Information technology multinational, Capgemini, used AI to identify more than 20,000 ‘hidden’ swimming pools across nine French regions.

Swimming pools are taxed under French law, and must be declared, as they can boost property prices. Tax officials now say the technology could be rolled out nationwide in a bid to recover lost revenues.

The findings also come at a time when there is greater discussion over the country’s relationship with water given France’s worst recorded drought in history where more than a hundred municipalities have stated they are short of drinking water.

Speaking on BFMTV, Julien Bayou, of France’s Europe-Ecology Greens party, said: “The challenge is not to ban swimming pools, it is to guarantee our vital water needs,” adding that any ban would be a last resort.

The AI software was developed in order to identify pools where none had been declared and the results have brought in around €10m (~£8.5m) in missing tax revenue since the trial in October 2021. An average sized pool attracts around €200 in tax per year.

It is thought the software could be expanded to include undeclared extensions, patios, gazebos or verandas.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Aether: Issue 3 Feb 2023

Aether: Issue 2 Nov 2022

Aether: Issue 1 Aug 2022

Subscribe for free

Latest Testimonial

What a beautiful motto: Discoveries must be read and not just published. When I was contacted by Aether as a new digital service to share scientific and technological insights I had my doubts that this was really going to be according to what I call the “open source & makers’ spirit”: knowledge should be free and it is there to be shared.

Well, Aether is faithful to its motto and shares discoveries freely. It has been a pleasure to collaborate for the interview and subsequent article. It has been greatly self satisfying to see how the interview was professionally and truthfully redacted and then published. Sharing thoughts and sparks for discussions is fundamental to the progress of society. Your journal offers clarity and brevity and I believe it provides the sparks to ignite any reader whether academic or not into action.

Dr Maria-Cristina Ciocci
Co-founder and Manager of non-profit organisation De Creative STEM,GirlsInSTEM