A nonprofit will begin using artificial intelligence to identify areas with severe storm damage to distribute funds to families severely impacted by hurricanes Helen and Milton.
The nonprofit GiveDirectly uses artificial intelligence developed by Google to find areas with high concentrations of poverty and storm damage. They then invite people in those areas to participate in the program.
According to ABC News, the Google team used its machine-based learning tools to narrow down the worst-hit areas by comparing pre- and post-disaster aerial photos.
GiveDirectly used another Google AI tool to compare these findings with poverty data (in this case, storm damage data). It then sends the targeted areas to an app that invites users in those locations to sign up.
“It will take anywhere from a year to almost seven to eight years for people in a disaster-affected community or region to actually get funding or relief support from the government,” said Rajiv Garg, associate professor of information systems at Emory University's Goizueta Business School.
“Google data can help identify these people, who are essentially people in need, and let's provide them with some support,” Garg added.
A senior case manager at GiveDirectly told ABC News that its approach is designed to deliver aid in the most streamlined and dignified way possible. The nonprofit plans to donate up to $1,500 to about 1,000 families in North Carolina and Florida.
Have a news tip? Contact Geoffrey Harris at gmharris@sbgtv.com or x.com/GeoffHarrisTV. The National Desk content is provided by Sinclair, the parent company of FOX45 News.
