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A missing hiker’s dead body was finally found in July in Italy’s rugged Piedmont region after 10 months. The recovery team credited the breakthrough to an AI-powered drone that spotted a critical clue within hours. The same process would have taken weeks or even months if done by the human eye.
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Search and recovery mission in the Italian Alps
The hiker, an experienced mountaineer identified as Nicola Ivaldo, had been missing since September 2024 on the northern slopes of Monviso in Italy’s Cottian Alps. This remote section of the mountain is known for sheer cliffs and loose rock. Sudden weather changes often make search efforts slow and hazardous.
Italian search and rescuers announced in July 2025 that they had used an artificial intelligence-powered drone to locate the dead body of a hiker who had been missing for months. (Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico – CNSAS)
The National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps (CNSAS) specializes in high-altitude and cave rescues. They had conducted multiple ground searches since the disappearance. In early 2025, they turned to drone technology to renew the effort. Flying about 164 feet above the terrain, the drones surveyed a 452-acre section of the mountain. During the operation, they captured more than 2,600 high-resolution images. This aerial perspective revealed details in areas that would have been difficult and risky to reach on foot.
Drone in flight near the peak of Monviso in Italy’s Cottian Alps during a rescue mission. (CNSAS)
How AI technology sped up the search
Instead of relying on human experts to manually scan thousands of photos, AI software analyzed the entire dataset in just hours. Using color and shape recognition, the system highlighted objects that did not match the surrounding environment.
One detection stood out: the red helmet belonging to the missing hiker. That small but critical find enabled rescuers to pinpoint the location and plan recovery efforts. Once the site was confirmed, teams navigated steep and unstable ground to reach the area. They worked in challenging alpine conditions to recover the hiker. Officials emphasized that this was a joint success between advanced technology and the skilled human team interpreting the AI’s results.
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Search and rescue drone flying over mountainous terrain. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
The future of AI in search and rescue
This operation marks a turning point in search and rescue tactics. AI-enabled drones can cover vast and dangerous areas without risking human lives. They speed up the search process and increase the chances of finding people alive.
Similar AI-aided searches have been used in Canada, Switzerland, and the United States. These missions often deliver faster results than traditional methods. Rescue teams hope that as the technology advances, it will reduce fatal accidents and locate missing persons faster. It could also allow human rescuers to focus their efforts where they are needed most.
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Drone in flight near the peak of Monviso in Italy’s Cottian Alps during a rescue mission. (CNSAS)
Kurt’s key takeaways
AI drones are changing the game for search and rescue. They can analyze massive amounts of visual data in hours instead of weeks. Combined with expert human teams, this technology could save more lives and make high-risk missions safer.
Do you think AI should play a bigger role in rescue operations? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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