What's happened
The National Weather Service (NWS) has reinstated its contract with Lilt, an AI company, to provide translations of weather alerts for non-English speakers. This comes after a brief pause in service due to a contract lapse, raising concerns about the safety of millions of non-English speakers during extreme weather events.
What's behind the headline?
Importance of Translations
- Safety Risks: The pause in translations could have endangered non-English speakers, who might miss critical weather warnings.
- Widespread Impact: With 42 million Spanish speakers in the U.S., the need for accessible information is paramount during extreme weather.
- Technological Reliance: The shift to AI for translations reflects broader trends in public services, but raises questions about reliability and accessibility.
Future Implications
- Continued Monitoring: The NWS must ensure that such lapses do not occur again, as they can have dire consequences.
- Public Trust: Maintaining effective communication with all communities is essential for public safety and trust in government agencies.
What the papers say
According to The Independent, the NWS's contract with Lilt was reinstated after concerns were raised about the risks to non-English speakers missing life-saving alerts. The AP News echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of translations during extreme weather events. The NY Post highlighted that the NWS had previously deemed manual translations unsustainable, leading to the reliance on AI. This situation underscores the critical role of accessible communication in public safety, especially for vulnerable populations.
How we got here
The NWS had previously replaced human translators with Lilt in late 2023, citing labor-intensive processes. The translations are crucial for nearly 68 million U.S. residents who speak a language other than English, especially during severe weather events.
Go deeper
- What languages are included in the translations?
- How many people rely on these translations?
- What are the implications of using AI for translations?
Common question
-
Why Did the NWS Pause Translations for Weather Alerts?
The National Weather Service (NWS) recently paused translations for weather alerts, raising concerns about the safety of non-English speakers during emergencies. This decision has significant implications for millions of residents who rely on these alerts for timely information. Below, we explore the reasons behind this pause and the steps being taken to improve communication in extreme weather situations.
More on these topics
-
The National Weather Service is an agency of the United States federal government that is tasked with providing weather forecasts, warnings of hazardous weather, and other weather-related products to organizations and the public for the purposes of protec
-
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is an American scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce that focuses on the conditions of the oceans, major waterways, and the atmosphere.
-
Lilt was a brand of soft drink manufactured by The Coca-Cola Company and sold only in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Gibraltar. Despite claims made by various news outlets, Lilt has never been sold in the Seychelles.
-
The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.