Tropical Storms, Translations, and Trust: AI's Influence on Spanish Speaking Communities' Weather Risk Perceptions

Effective risk communication is crucial for public safety, particularly in the context of natural hazards. The National Weather Service plays a vital role in this effort by providing weather, water, and climate data, as well as forecasts and warnings, to protect lives and property. However, the challenge of communicating risk effectively is amplified in linguistically and culturally diverse societies like the United States, where Spanish speakers represent a significant and growing demographic. Addressing linguistic barriers and cultural differences is essential for ensuring that all communities are well-informed and prepared.
Recent efforts to enhance communication with Spanish-speaking communities have included the development of bilingual resources and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for translation. Despite these advances, challenges remain, particularly regarding the accuracy of translations and the conveyance of cultural nuances. As the National Hurricane Center increasingly implements AI-driven translations of hurricane risk information, it is important to assess how these translations are received by Spanish-speaking communities.
Using data from a nationwide survey on tropical cyclones, this study aims to explore the accuracy, readability, and acceptability of AI-generated translations of tropical weather information among Spanish speakers. It also seeks to compare the trustworthiness of AI translations with those produced by human forecasters. Research questions include: How do Spanish speakers perceive the trustworthiness of AI translations compared to human translations? What impact do these translations have on comprehension, self-efficacy, and response-efficacy during tropical weather events?
The study further examines how perceptions of AI-generated translations vary based on demographic factors such as ethnicity, age, Hispanic origin, and geographic location. Understanding these variations is crucial for improving communication strategies and ensuring that AI tools effectively meet the needs of diverse communities.
Results from the survey will be presented and discussed, providing insights into the effectiveness of AI in risk communication and offering recommendations for enhancing communication strategies to better serve Spanish-speaking communities during weather-related emergencies.