Sponsors (4)
Directs NOAA to curate Earth‑system AI training datasets and to develop and test AI‑based weather and wildfire forecasting models, with a four‑year dataset timeline.
Official title: Enhance the use by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of artificial intelligence for weather forecasting, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 9, 2025 by Brian Emanuel Schatz · Last progress April 9, 2025
The bill funds and releases NOAA AI forecasting models and curated datasets to improve forecasts and public safety and to accelerate research, but does so at modest federal cost and with risks that security, IP, or private‑sector arrangements could limit access, transparency, or equitable control.
Emergency managers, local and state governments, hospitals/health systems, transportation workers, and the public will get more accurate AI-enhanced forecasts for weather, water, wildfires, and space weather, reducing harm and improving emergency response.
Researchers, forecasters, and the public will gain free access (within ~4 years) to comprehensive, curated NOAA Earth-system AI models and datasets, supporting better model development, forecast accuracy, and broader public preparedness.
Federal funding (~$105M in FY2026 and ~$25M/year FY2027–2030; roughly $205M total) will support AI R&D, staffing, and capacity building to accelerate adoption of advanced forecasting tools and sustain operations.
National security, IP, or contractor restrictions could delay or limit public release of datasets and models, reducing transparency, delaying benefits to emergency managers and researchers, and limiting external validation.
Accepting non‑Federal contributions and shared IP arrangements could give private entities preferential access, influence, or control over models or data, risking inequitable access or biased development.
The appropriations required (about $205M over five years) increase federal spending and could divert funds from other priorities.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Directs the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to lead a federal effort to develop and curate comprehensive Earth‑system training datasets and to explore, develop, and test AI‑based weather forecasting models and regional experiments. The law defines AI and related terms, sets a four‑year timeline for dataset curation, requires consultation with other science agencies and experts, preserves ongoing support for observations and numerical modeling, and encourages public–private partnerships and improved risk communication for weather, wildfire, and related hazards.