An AI venture backed by Google is teaming up with the US military to harness AI for disaster response. Bellwether, part of Alphabet's X innovation hub, announced its collaboration with the National Guard and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to streamline the Guard's disaster response processes. The initiative aims to leverage AI and machine learning to rapidly analyse aerial imagery of disaster scenes, identifying damage to critical infrastructure to aid in resource deployment.

Traditionally, the National Guard conducts damage assessments manually, which can lead to delays in the initial response due to the time required for analysis. Bellwether's prototype utilises AI and ML to analyse disaster-affected areas in seconds, providing labelled maps of affected areas. This technology enables quicker decision-making regarding resource allocation for disaster response teams.

Colonel Brian McGarry, leading the National Guard's operations division, emphasised the significance of AI in expediting critical information delivery during disasters. By automating routine tasks like image analysis and labelling, AI can significantly accelerate the response process, ultimately saving lives in affected communities.

Why does it matter?

Google's partnership with Bellwether underscores the potential of AI in disaster response efforts. Additionally, Bellwether is developing a wildfire prediction tool that utilises historical data and environmental factors to forecast fire risk, demonstrating the broader applications of AI in mitigating natural disasters.