Scientists develop new AI algorithm to reduce impact of earthquakes

A new effort to use artificial intelligence (AI) for predicting earthquakes has sparked optimism that the technology could eventually help reduce the impact of earthquakes on lives and economies, SciTechDaily reported.

Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin developed an AI algorithm that accurately predicted 70% of earthquakes a week before they occurred during a seven-month trial in China.

The AI was trained to recognize statistical anomalies in real-time seismic data by associating them with past earthquakes.

The result was a weekly forecast in which the AI correctly predicted 14 earthquakes within roughly 200 miles of the estimated location and with nearly exact predicted strength. However, it failed to predict one earthquake and issued eight false alarms.