Microsoft, Energy Department to Develop Disaster-Response AI Tools

The First Five Consortium, a nod to the importance of the first five minutes in responding to a natural disaster, aims to build between 10 and 30 different AI-powered systems. Microsoft will provide technological resources, including its Azure cloud for AI model training and inference. Other organizations, including public- and private-sector entities, are expected to participate. The Morning Download delivers daily insights and news on business technology from the CIO Journal team. The announcement comes as California confronts another summer of raging wildfires, while Iowa reels from devastating windstorms.