Apr 8, 2023

How AI Protects Life on Earth

NASA recently released an AI system called DAGGER to predict solar storms. Here's how AI can protect life on Earth, from predicting solar storms to protecting power grids, communications, and critical infrastructure.

AI ENERGY SCIENCE

Alex Banks

Building a better future with AI.

Member of Business & Startups

Last week NASA released an AI system called DAGGER.

Here's how AI protects life on Earth: pic.twitter.com/iYuk9vPvqy
— Alex Banks (@thealexbanks) April 8, 2023
1/ AI-powered solar storm prediction model

DAGGER stands for Deep Learning Geomagnetic Perturbation.

Put simply it predicts solar storms 30 mins before they occur.

• Produces predictions in less than 1 second
• Predictions update every minute
• Combines AI & satellite data
— Alex Banks (@thealexbanks) April 8, 2023
2/ The need for solar storm prediction

Solar storms can cause severe impacts on:

• Power grids
• Communications
• Critical infrastructure

This can lead to devastating effects on people & economies.

• 1859 — Carrington Event
• 1989 — Quebec electrical blackouts
— Alex Banks (@thealexbanks) April 8, 2023
3/ Solar eruptions

NASA captured a video of two eruptions from the Sun in October 2003.

It led to a blackout in Sweden and disruptions to communications, aircraft, and spacecraft.

The footage appears snowy from high-energy particles hitting the camera. pic.twitter.com/iMQSbMQC1j
— Alex Banks (@thealexbanks) April 8, 2023
4/ Deep learning and accuracy

DAGGER uses deep learning to recognize patterns based on previous examples.

It was tested against two geomagnetic storms in 2011 and 2015.

In each case, it quickly and accurately forecasted the storm’s impacts around the world.
— Alex Banks (@thealexbanks) April 8, 2023
5/ Open-source code & applications

DAGGER's code is open-sourced. This allows:

• Satellite controllers
• Power grid operators
• Telecoms companies

To adapt the model to their specific needs.

This helps protect assets & avoid devastation around the world.
— Alex Banks (@thealexbanks) April 8, 2023
I feel a sense of urgency for prediction models like DAGGER.

The next solar maximum is 2025.

This is a peak in the Sun’s 11-year activity cycle.

Advanced warnings will be increasingly helpful to prepare for solar storms.
— Alex Banks (@thealexbanks) April 8, 2023
I personally couldn't be more excited for the future of AI & space.

Follow me @thealexbanks for more on AI.

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— Alex Banks (@thealexbanks) April 8, 2023
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— Alex Banks (@thealexbanks) April 8, 2023
You can check out the full article from NASA here:https://t.co/H7fFMxADhK
— Alex Banks (@thealexbanks) April 8, 2023