Harnessing AI to Advance the NWS Mission and Transformation

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the World with powerful tools with considerable potential for various applications in industries and everyday life. Alongside this potential comes inherent risks that require careful management and oversight. At the same time, the growing demand for weather and climate decision support services is placing increased pressure on the National Weather Service (NWS) to innovate and expand its capabilities.

Recognizing these dual imperatives, the NWS has proactively established an AI Strategy Group (AISG) to define broad use cases for AI across the agency. The group is actively defining thematic areas and marshaling activities for AI within the agency, which will greatly improve the efficiency of these activities. AISG is also committed to ensuring responsible, ethical, and explainable adoption of AI to continue the NWS’s trusted delivery of mission services.

This presentation will highlight this high-level approach encompassing AI applications for weather prediction, impact-based decision support services, and operational efficiencies that will expand staff capacity and ultimately lead to better products and services for the American public. We will also discuss how AISG’s approach remains consistent with NOAA, and Federal approaches to ethical and responsible AI development.