Google expands Earth AI access, adds updates for flood forecasting
Google is pushing its Earth-AI platform out to more people and has just added a new flood-forecasting tweak. When a storm hits, we all end up relying on Search or Maps to figure out whether to evacuate, and that habit now reaches over two billion users. The idea is simple: get a warning a bit earlier, and maybe fewer lives are lost. It sounds promising, though the exact timing of the alerts isn’t spelled out yet.
What this means is that a lot more regions can now use AI-powered terrain analysis, satellite snaps and prediction models that used to be hidden behind tighter gates. Details are thin, but the headline says the data should be more widely available and a touch sharper for flood risk. If more folks see the alerts, we could see quicker evacuations, smarter aid deployment and, hopefully, fewer casualties.
Still, without a clear rollout map or schedule, it’s hard to say how big the effect will be. The move feels like a modest step toward weaving AI into the safety tools we already use every day.
New updates and more access to Google Earth AI When disasters strike, Google products like Search and Maps help billions of people make critical decisions to stay safe. Our flood forecasting information — now covering more than two billion people — provides life-saving forecasts before the most significant river floods. It's helped organizations like World Vision get drinking water and food to communities when they need it most.
And during the devastating 2025 California wildfires, we provided crisis alerts with information from local authorities to 15 million people across Los Angeles while showing them where to find shelter in Google Maps. This is all made possible by our geospatial AI models, not only for floods and wildfires, but cyclones, air quality and many more. We recently introduced Google Earth AI, bringing together these geospatial models to help tackle the planet's most critical needs.
Earth AI is built on decades modeling the world, combined with state of the art predictive models and Gemini’s advanced reasoning, letting enterprises, cities and nonprofits achieve deeper understanding in minutes — efforts that previously required complex analytics and years of research. Today, we’re advancing Earth AI’s innovations and capabilities, and expanding access around the globe.
Google now says Earth AI touches more than two billion people with flood forecasts. They point to World Vision handing out water and food as a concrete example, and they note that the same tools were on the ground during the 2025 California wildfires. Still, the press release is vague about what’s actually new compared with earlier versions, and it says little about how accurate those predictions really are.
The “life-saving” label rests on a handful of stories rather than any published performance data. It’s also unclear whether the service covers every high-risk river basin or just a select few hotspots. We all know Google has woven Search and Maps into disaster response, but the exact part Earth AI plays in that workflow isn’t spelled out.
Without an outside audit, we can’t be sure how far the reach extends or how effective the updates are. The rollout certainly looks bigger on paper, but we’ll have to watch the real-world results to see if the promised benefits actually materialize.
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Common Questions Answered
How many people does Google's flood forecasting service now cover?
Google's flood forecasting service now covers more than two billion users worldwide. This expanded reach allows the platform to deliver life-saving predictions to a massive global population before significant river floods occur.
Which organizations have utilized Google's Earth AI flood forecasting for disaster response?
Organizations like World Vision have used Google's Earth AI flood forecasting to deliver critical supplies such as drinking water and food to affected communities. The platform also reportedly aided response efforts during the devastating 2025 California wildfires.
What is the primary goal of expanding access to Google's Earth AI platform?
The primary goal is to help billions of people make critical safety decisions when disasters strike by providing earlier warnings through products like Search and Maps. Earlier flood forecasts can potentially lead to fewer casualties by giving people and organizations more time to prepare and respond.