'AI lifeguard' start-up wins international award 

Deep Blue uses an artificial intelligence algorithm to track dozens of swimmers using existing camera networks and is already being trialled on beaches and swimming pools in Dubai. 

 

Karl, 44, who is now into his second year of the Executive MBA, won the prestigious Start-Up of the Year Award 2025 in the AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards 2025. 

 

 

He said: “Winning this award is recognition for the vision we had for this product and the hard work we have put in. This is a prime example of how AI can enhance our lives. It is not being used to replace humans but to augment their capabilities.” 

 

Deep Blue is able to track dozens of swimmers at any one time and has been ‘trained’ to spot potential drowning events or swimmers who get into difficulty – if it does detect something untoward, it alerts lifeguards. 

 

Karl, pictured below, who was born in Lebanon and has made a career out of developing start-ups, explained: “We will always need lifeguards at swimming pools and beaches. This system is not meant to replace them but to help them. Obviously, there is a limit to the number of people any person can keep track of, on top of which there are other variables such as attention spans and environmental factors. 

 

 

“Developing a system that is able to track swimmers who are in the sea is extremely complex, because you have to take account of all kinds of variables, such as swimmers disappearing behind waves, or going under the water for a period of time, and so on, but we have developed a mathematical model that works.  

 

“Deep Blue is able to watch all of the swimmers all of the time and send alerts to wristwatches worn by lifeguards whenever it spots something unusual. We have also trained those lifeguards taking part in the trials to be able to read the computer screens so they can identify the problem and act accordingly.” 

 

Karl, who is also the COO of another tech start-up, said he and his two business partners beat two other companies to clinch the Dubai government trials. 

 

The father-of-two said he chose the Executive MBA for its subject content and the ability to forge new contacts. 

 

“I chose Bradford’s Executive MBA because of the subjects on offer. I already run my own companies but I have still learned new skills and my cohort is packed full of people at the top of their game who bring with them unique insights, so from a networking perspective, it has been very useful.” 

 

 

Interim Dean of the School of Management Professor Saeed Akbar (pictured above), who accepted the award on Karl's behalf, said: “This is a tremendous achievement for Karl and we’re pleased he has found our Executive MBA to be so beneficial. I am also pleased to see AI being used for good. Our School of Management is championing the use of AI through its MSc in Data Analytics and AI and by March this year, we will have offered 140 £10,000 scholarships, delivering on our promise to provide graduates with job-ready skills valued by employers. Karl is a shining example to our students. We’re also pleased to be associated with the Association of MBAs and Business Graduates Association (AMBA & BGA) Awards. Our School of Management is one of the top 1% in the world to hold triple-accreditation, including from AMBA.” 

 

AMBA Awards 

 

The AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards 2025 were held on January 24, 2025 at the exceptional Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, London. The Awards brought together leading lights from the global business education community to celebrate excellence and commend achievement among business schools, MBA students and graduates, suppliers and employers.  

 

The ceremony was attended by more than 200 business school leaders, as well as category finalists, judges and members of the media.  

 

The Start-Up of the Year Award celebrates the achievements of successful students and alumni that have launched their own businesses. It aims to encourage and promote the value of new business innovation and potential in the current competitive climate. 

 

It also highlights business schools that are nurturing a spirit of enterprise and ambition in their cohorts. 

 

Deep Blue's AI Drown Detection System represents a groundbreaking leap in water safety technology. It provides real-time monitoring and rapid response capabilities for drowning incidents in various aquatic environments. The system detects potential drownings but also pre-empts this by understanding the risk rating of situations – for example by understanding the ratio of adults to children to lifeguards – and detecting patterns of weak swimming.  

 

It also includes other features such as victim location tracking, unauthorised person alerts, and crowd analytics. It is currently in trial on one public beach and one public school – both operated by Dubai Municipality, and one private residential lagoon. 

 

Andrew Main Wilson, Chief Executive of the Association of MBAs and Business Graduates Association (AMBA & BGA) said: “On behalf of the AMBA and BGA team, I would like to congratulate the finalists and winners of this year’s Excellence Awards.  

 

“This year, the competition was stronger than ever. The entries who have made the final shortlist in each category should feel proud of their achievements.   

 

“Additionally, the students and graduates who have been shortlisted as finalists today have all used their qualifications to achieve a spectrum of impressive results, in terms of the positive impact they have made to business, education and society as a whole. 

 

“It was thrilling to be able to celebrate the AMBA network’s achievements at this glamorous Gala Dinner - in particular its been amazing to celebrate exceptional innovations and successes in the higher management education industry.  

 

“I also want to take the opportunity to thank our partners, Kortext, Canvas by Instructure, Cesim Business Simulations, Perlego and BlueSky Education. Their support for our awards – and the business education sector – is greatly appreciated.” 

 

More about Deep Blue 

 

Deep Blue's AI Drown Detection System represents a groundbreaking leap in water safety technology. It provides real-time monitoring and rapid response capabilities for drowning incidents in various aquatic environments. The system detects potential drownings but also pre-empts this by understanding the risk rating of situations – for example by understanding the ratio of adults to children to lifeguards – and detecting patterns of weak swimming. 

 

It has other features like victim location tracking, unauthorized person alerts, and crowd analytics. It is currently in trial on one public beach and one public school – both operated by Dubai Municipality, and one private residential lagoon. 

 

Deep Blue's AI Drown Detection System addresses a significant gap in the water safety market by offering an automated, AI-driven solution to drowning prevention and overall aquatic security. Traditionally, water safety has relied heavily on human vigilance, which, while valuable, is subject to limitations such as fatigue, distractions, and the inability to monitor large areas consistently.