Startup uses AI-powered balloons for critical tasks in wake of disasters: 'Insurance in the face of catastrophes'

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A startup called Near Space Labs is using artificial intelligence-powered balloons to help speed up the claim process, Axios reported.

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After disaster strikes, Near Space's balloons and cameras can be utilized to survey an area for damage and collect data. The balloons reach the stratosphere, above where airplanes typically fly, and can safely and quickly gather the information necessary to complete an insurance claim.

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While there are strong cases to be made about the environmental burden AI can cause, including the high energy demand for supercomputing centers, many AI and machine learning models can be beneficial for climate scientists. Some models can predict flooding and help protect communities. Similarly, AI technology has been developed to detect wildfires.

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