Hurricane Ian destroyed their homes. Algorithms sent them money [Ars Technica]

Google’s AI scanned satellite imagery to identify the worst-hit neighborhoods.

Enlarge (credit: Joe Raedle / Getty)

When Hurricane Ian churned over Florida in late September, it left a trail of destruction from high winds and flooding. But a week after the storm passed, some people in three of the worst-hit counties saw an unexpected beacon of hope.

Nearly 3,500 residents of Collier, Charlotte, and Lee Counties received a push notification on their smartphones offering $700 cash assistance, no questions asked. A Google algorithm deployed in partnership with nonprofit GiveDirectly had estimated from satellite images that those people lived in badly damaged neighborhoods and needed some help.

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