Microsoft Invests $5 Million in Wildfire Detection Tech

Microsoft is investing $5m in ALERTCalifornia, a UC San Diego programme that uses AI and a statewide network of cameras to detect California wildfires early. The funding will strengthen the technology behind the system, supporting its expansion and development.

The collaboration between Microsoft's AI for Good Lab and ALERTCalifornia aims to give firefighters more time to respond to California wildfires by identifying smoke and potential fires before they're reported to emergency services.

The AI system continuously analyses images captured by a network of over 1,300 high-definition cameras positioned across fire-prone areas. It can detect some wildfires as much as 2.5 hours before the first 911 call, with more than seven million images processed every day.