Google DeepMind Develops AI: Google DeepMind, a global leader in artificial intelligence research and development, has developed an AI-based system that can accurately predict the likelihood of rain up to two hours in advance.
The AI ‘now-cast’ model uses high-resolution radar data from the past 20 minutes to make its predictions based on whether medium or heavy rainfall is likely to occur.
It then forecasts if the rain will continue for the next 90 minutes. This new tool ranks first with Met Office meteorologists when it comes to accuracy, outperforming existing tools by a large margin.
The AI ‘nowcasting’ system is built upon several years of research at Google DeepMind. However, this is not the only artificial intelligence (AI) project that has been developed by the tech giant over recent months.
Earlier in December 2016, it was revealed how DeepMind had created an automated data analysis tool for Healthcare records that can predict the onset of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients.
With this new tool, Google DeepMind is able to forecast rain by analyzing high-resolution radar data from the past 20 minutes. It then ranks how likely it is that medium or heavy rainfall will occur up to 90 minutes ahead of time.
Google DeepMind Develops AI, The machine learning model was trained using three years worth of historical weather radar measurements taken between 2013 and 2016, with each day containing around 1000 samples per hour during daylight hours.
The current version provides reliable forecasts about one hour in advance but further research aims to extend this to longer-term forecasts.
This will enable users of the model to plan ahead, for example potentially allowing train operators or emergency services workers to better prepare themselves in advance if rain is expected on their route.
However, some meteorologists have expressed concerns that this AI ‘nowcasting’ system could be putting lives at risk by encouraging people who are caught in a storm to take unnecessary risks.
They believe that the new tool may encourage people who are caught up in bad weather conditions to remain outside for longer periods of time, potentially leading them into danger.
Despite this criticism, others have praised Google DeepMind’s work and how it could help save lives by giving advanced warning about incoming storms or heavy rainfall.
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