This is less AI government cooperation Disturbing Multiple varieties. Google DeepMind has partnered with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to survive the tropical cyclone season. The AI Research Laboratory claims it can predict hurricane paths and intensity at least with the same accuracy as traditional methods.
NHC forecasters have begun using DeepMind’s AI model. Google said they are designed to support rather than replace human NHC forecasters. (Although President Trump’s National Weather Service cuts have reduced its staff.) The company has also carefully described its model as “experimental.”
Google claims its model offers fewer tradeoffs than physics-based predictions. The more accurately these methods predict the road of a hurricane, the worse their intensity they predict. (And vice versa.) The company says its experimental system provides “standard-of-standard” accuracy for both.
Over the past two years, DeepMind has leveraged data on real-life storms. On average, its five-day hurricane track prediction is closer to the actual path of the storm than the widely used traditional model ENS. Google’s prediction model is comparable to the 3.5-day prediction model. In other words, it’s like getting an additional 1.5-day warning with the same confidence. Such improvements usually take more than a decade to achieve, the company said.
In addition to the NHC partnership, Google will also launch a new website that you can try. Now, in a public preview, Weather Lab allows you to see AI storm predictions. It allows you to view live and historical forecasts. You can even compare them to a physics-based model to see how the AI version measures.
It is important not to regard experimental predictions from weather labs as official. However, if you live in Hurricane Lane, the site may come in handy. You can check it out now.
