Microsoft’s new AI is reading the skies like a pro

MICROSOFT

Microsoft’s new AI is reading the skies like a pro

Microsoft has introduced Aurora, a powerful new AI model designed to predict major weather events, like hurricanes, typhoons, and sandstorms, faster and more accurately than many traditional systems.

It’s trained on over a million hours of satellite, radar, and simulation data and can be fine-tuned for specific events as needed.

AI weather models aren’t new (Google’s had a few), but Microsoft is pitching Aurora as a top-tier performer.

In tests, it accurately predicted Typhoon Doksuri’s landfall in the Philippines four days early and outperformed the National Hurricane Centre on cyclone tracking.

It also nailed the timing of Iraq’s 2022 sandstorm.

Trained to read clouds, not tea leaves

While training the model took a lot of computing power, Microsoft says running it is quick and efficient; forecasts are generated in seconds, not hours.

Quick facts:

• Aurora delivers faster forecasts using over a million hours of weather data.

• It correctly predicted major events like Typhoon Doksuri and the 2022 Iraq sandstorm.

• Microsoft’s MSN Weather app now includes Aurora-powered updates.

The model is open source, and a version of it is already being used in the MSN Weather app, offering updated hourly forecasts, including cloud coverage.

Forecasting typhoons like it’s guessing your Spotify Wrapped.