The
AI for Early Warnings for All Innovation Challenge: Bridging gaps with AI solutions is a global hackathon designed to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to address critical gaps in early warning systems (EWS) for disasters and extreme weather events.
The submission of entries to this global challenge ran from 12 to 26 May 2025, 11:59 PM CEST.
We received submissions of solutions that innovate on these four challenge areas:
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AI for Data Gaps: Develop AI-powered tools that address missing or low-quality data in early warning systems, including the use of synthetic data, data fusion, and natural language processing to enhance coverage and accuracy.
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AI for Forecasting and Impact-Based Prediction: Create AI models to improve the accuracy, lead time, and impact-based nature of hazard forecasting, including extreme weather, heatwaves, and slow-onset disasters.
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Societal Impacts of AI in Early Warning: Design inclusive, ethical AI systems that address language barriers, accessibility, misinformation, and trust-building in communities, especially among vulnerable and marginalized groups.
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Emergency Preparedness, Anticipatory Action and Resource Optimization: Apply AI to strengthen anticipatory approaches and optimize the allocation of emergency resources, including the design of scenario-based simulations, improving logistics, targeting and delivery under short lead times, supporting personalized early action advice, behaviour-triggering tools or coordination support, and assessing preparedness and/or anticipatory action plans in real-time.
Who participated
The challenge welcomed individuals and teams (maximum of 6 per team) from various backgrounds. This included experts in:
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
- Climate Science and Meteorology
- Data Science and Engineering
- Communication and Social Sciences
- Anyone with a passion for leveraging technology for humanitarian impact!
Challenge timeline
- Phase 1: Challenge launch and registration (May 2025)
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Phase 2: Evaluation and shortlisting (May-June 2025)
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Phase 3: Ideation and solution development (June 2025)
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Phase 4: AI4Good Global Summit and announcement of selected solutions (July 2025)
Challenge finalists
As of 01 July 2025, the evaluation jury, composed of members of the AI Sub-group of the EW4All initiative, has concluded the selection process for the challenge. Out of over 50 submissions, the jury selected the top four finalists based on the criteria found here. The top four finalists will present their work at the AI Innovation for Early Warnings for All: Bridging gaps, saving lives workshop on 09 July 2025, taking place as part of the AI4Good Global Summit 2025, while all the finalists who made it to the top 10 will be invited to present their work at the next AI Sub-Group of EW4All meeting (exact date to be announced later). The jury are directly in contact with all the selected.
Learn more about the top four selected solutions here.
Opportunities for the selected solutions
The
AI for Early Warnings for All Innovation Challenge: Bridging gaps with AI solutions offered finalists a high-profile platform to showcase their solutions, gain global visibility, refine their ideas with expert mentorship, and build meaningful connections to help accelerate their work. Finalists have:
- Presented at the AI for Good Global Summit 2025, during the workshop AI Innovation for Early Warnings for All: Bridging gaps, saving lives on 09 July 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland, gaining exposure to a global audience of tech leaders and changemakers.
- Received tailored mentorship and technical guidance from leading AI experts, UN specialists and members of the AI Sub-Group of EW4All. They integrated into a powerful network of UN agencies, AI innovators, policymakers, and partners ready to explore opportunities for collaboration and growth.
