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Google DeepMind Releases WeatherNext 3 AI Model to Provide High-Resolution Hourly Weather Forecasts

Google DeepMind and Google Research have released WeatherNext 3, an advanced artificial intelligence model designed to provide more accurate and high-resolution global weather forecasts. Unlike traditional models that rely on physics-based simulations with a six-hour data lag, WeatherNext 3 incorporates live satellite data to produce updates every hour. The model offers a global weather picture that is five times sharper than its predecessor, WeatherNext 2, providing temperature and moisture variables at a 5-kilometer resolution. Significant improvements were made to precipitation forecasting, with the model achieving up to 60% better accuracy in some evaluations. The model also includes specific variables for renewable energy, such as wind speeds at turbine height and sun radiation levels for solar farms. These features are intended to benefit agriculture, clean energy planning, and daily planning for users worldwide. WeatherNext 3 is now integrated into core Google products, including Search, Maps, and Gemini. While the model still works in tandem with traditional physics-based models, it offers a faster and more cost-effective way to provide localized, high-fidelity forecasting for regions that have historically been underserved by expensive supercomputing resources.

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