AI-Powered Disaster Response: Saving Lives with Speed and Precision

When disaster strikes, AI-assisted analysis of satellite imagery is helping responders reach people more quickly. In June, a massive earthquake hit Venezuela, leaving first responders scrambling to determine where aid was needed most.

Catholic Relief Services' Carlos Rivas turned to Microsoft's High-speed Assessment and Satellite Tracking for Emergencies system (HASTE) for help. The tool provides critical information on damage levels and hotspots within hours of a disaster, rather than weeks.

Rivas says speed is key in disaster response: 'It's a matter of saving a life, right?' HASTE has been used in 23 major disasters since 2023, including wildfires in France and floods in Libya.