NASA and Microsoft Launch Earth Copilot: AI-Powered Tool to Democratize Access to Earth Science Data

NASA Partners With Microsoft to Open Up Valuable Space Data to the Public

Through a new partnership with Microsoft, NASA wants to "democratize" access to its scientific data with the help of A.I. NASA has collected a staggering 100 petabytes of scientific data on Earth thanks to its satellites. But the space agency's wealth of information on topics from climate change to ocean temperatures to deforestation patterns is largely inaccessible to the general public due to its complexity. Enter Microsoft (MSFT). The tech giant is partnering with NASA to make its geospatial information easily available for scientists, policymakers and students through a new A.I. assistant known as Earth Copilot. Enabled by Microsoft's Azure OpenAI Service, Earth Copilot will allow users to draw from NASA's data by asking simple questions like: "What was the impact of Hurricane Ian in Sanibel Island?" or "How did the Covid-19 pandemic affect air quality in the U.S.?" Sign Up For Our Daily Newsletter Sign Up Thank you for signing up! By clicking submit, you agree to our <a href="http://observermedia.com/terms">terms of service</a> and acknowledge we may use your information to send you emails, product samples, and promotions on this website and other properties. You can opt out anytime. See all of our newsletters Whereas previous interactions with NASA's datasets required an ability to understand specific data formats and technical interfaces, the space agency says its new A.I.-infused project will offer clear results in mere seconds. "We've designed the system to handle complex queries and large datasets efficiently, ensuring that users can quickly find the information they need without getting bogged down by technical complexities," said Juan Carlos López, a Microsoft Azure specialist and former NASA engineer, in a statement. How can the public use NASA's satellite data? Collected by orbiting sensors and instruments, NASA's scientific data has endless applications on Earth. Agricultural experts can use information on soil moisture levels to inform crop management techniques, for example, while historical data on hurricanes benefits scientists working on new predictive models. Access to such data therefore has wide-ranging impacts on sectors like policy, disaster response, agriculture and urban planning. "This issue isn't just a matter of convenience; it has real-world implications," said Tyler Bryson, Microsoft's corporate vice president of health and public sector industries, in a post announcing the collaboration. The capabilities of Earth Copilot are currently only being tested by NASA scientists and researchers. Before integrating the A.I. tool into NASA's pre-existing data analysis platform, known as Visualization, Exploration, and Data Analysis (VEDA), the agency said it will undergo rigorous internal evaluations to avoid any potential misuse. According to Minh Nyugen, a cloud solution architect at Microsoft, Earth Copilot's broader vision is to bring NASA data to underserved communities that can benefit from the agency's trove of information. "By enabling users to interact with the data through simple, plain language queries, we're helping to democratize access to spaceborne information," said Nyugen in a statement.

NASA's new tool uses Microsoft AI to unlock data for all

NASA is revolutionizing the accessibility of Earth science data with its latest initiative, Earth Copilot, developed in partnership with Microsoft. This AI chatbot is designed to simplify how users can inquire about complex scientific information regarding our planet, transforming questions into easily digestible answers. Every day, NASA gathers a staggering amount of geospatial data through its satellites, which monitor everything from climate change to natural disasters. Currently, the agency's database contains over 100 petabytes of information, creating a monumental challenge for non-specialists looking for specific insights. NASA's Earth Copilot aims to democratize this data by enabling users to bypass technical hurdles and directly ask questions about environmental impacts, historical events, or emerging trends. As Tyler Bryson, Microsoft's corporate vice president of health and public sector industries, noted, "For many, finding and extracting insights requires navigating technical interfaces, understanding data formats, and mastering the intricacies of geospatial analysis." The Earth Copilot uses Azure OpenAI Service to facilitate this process, allowing users to obtain answers in seconds rather than diving into the intricacies of data environments. Currently, the Earth Copilot is being tested by NASA scientists and researchers before wider release. Their feedback will be crucial for refining its integration into NASA's Visualization, Exploration, and Data Analysis (VEDA) platform, which previously required specialized knowledge to navigate effectively. Navigating the complexities of Earth science data can be likened to deciphering an ancient scroll -- it's possible but often requires a level of expertise that limits who can engage with it. The existing barriers not only slow down research efforts but can also hinder timely responses during emergencies, such as natural disasters. Policymakers who need immediate insights on environmental changes find this particular challenge all too real. To tackle this issue head-on, NASA is turning to AI capabilities powered by Microsoft. The Earth Copilot employs natural language processing, meaning users can simply type or voice their questions in plain language. For instance, someone might ask, "How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect air quality in the US?" With the AI's help, users will be able to quickly retrieve and analyze pertinent data, streamlining research and decision-making processes. NASA's commitment to making this data more accessible aligns perfectly with its Open Science initiative, which emphasizes transparency and inclusivity in scientific research. This push towards democratizing access serves not just researchers but also educators, students, and the general public interested in Earth science.

NASA and Microsoft Launch AI Tool to Make Earth Data Accessible

NASA's AI tool simplifies access to Earth science data. Earth Copilot integrates AI to summarise complex datasets. Microsoft collaborates with NASA for easier data access. A new artificial intelligence (AI) tool, Earth Copilot, has been introduced by NASA in collaboration with Microsoft to make Earth-related scientific data more accessible. Designed to summarise NASA's extensive geospatial information, the AI-powered chatbot aims to simplify complex datasets and answer user queries with ease. By addressing questions like the environmental impact of events or changes in air quality, the tool seeks to bridge the gap between NASA's vast database and users who may lack technical expertise. The initiative is part of NASA's effort to expand access to its data. According to Tyler Bryson, Corporate Vice President for Health and Public Sector Industries at Microsoft, many users struggle to utilise NASA's database due to its technical nature. Extracting insights often requires specialised knowledge of geospatial analysis and data formats. By integrating AI into NASA's data repository, Earth Copilot reduces the time needed to derive insights from scientific information, making the data more accessible in seconds. Currently, Earth Copilot is in a testing phase, with NASA scientists and researchers evaluating its performance. Following this assessment, NASA plans to integrate the tool into its Visualisation, Exploration, and Data Analysis (VEDA) platform. VEDA already offers public access to some of NASA's datasets, and Earth Copilot could enhance its usability for non-specialist users. Earth Copilot is expected to transform how users interact with Earth science data by simplifying the process of analysis. The tool has been designed to answer complex questions, such as the effects of natural disasters or global events, using NASA's comprehensive database. Its development aligns with the agency's goal of enhancing public understanding of Earth's systems and providing timely, accurate insights for decision-making. While still limited to internal testing, Earth Copilot represents a promising step towards making Earth science data universally accessible.

Microsoft and NASA have a new AI tool to put satellite data at your fingertips

Not everyone can make it to outer space, but Microsoft (MSFT+0.22%) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration want to "democratize access" to the Earth's scientific data. The space agency has built a custom artificial intelligence-powered copilot, called Earth Copilot, using Microsoft's Azure OpenAI Service, the tech giant announced on Thursday. NASA's copilot aims to make data collected by the space agency, such as information on wildfires and climate change, more accessible to the general public, scientists and educators, and policymakers. The new system lets users ask questions about NASA's satellite data in plain English, similar to chatting with a virtual assistant. AI technology can now rapidly analyze complex data collected by NASA's sensors and instruments in space, such as atmospheric conditions and temperatures, "reducing time to gain insights from Earth's data in a matter of seconds," Microsoft said. "The vision behind this collaboration was to leverage AI and cloud technologies to bring Earth's insights to communities that have been underserved, where access to data can lead to tangible improvements," Minh Nguyen, cloud solution architect at Microsoft, said in a statement. "By enabling users to interact with the data through simple, plain language queries, we're helping to democratize access to spaceborne information." Earth Copilot is currently only available to NASA scientists and researchers for testing to ensure users cannot misuse its data and outputs. The tool is part of NASA's Transform to Open Science initiative, which aims to share NASA's geospatial data with a wider audience. Microsoft did not announce a public release date for Earth Copilot. Microsoft has integrated its flagship AI product, Copilot, into its suite of business apps. In October, the tech giant announced that users would be able to build their own autonomous agents in Copilot Studio that can "understand the nature of your work and act on your behalf." The company also announced 10 new autonomous agents for its enterprise platform, Dynamics 365.

NASA and Microsoft team up to create an Earth Copilot AI chatbot

Users can ask natural language questions and let AI source the data Microsoft and NASA have teamed up to launch Earth Copilot, a new custom copilot built on the Azure OpenAI Service platform to help the space agency make sense of the more than 100 petabytes of data that it has collected from space. In a blog post, Microsoft explained geospatial data is already complex, and additional data being continuously collected from new satellites is adding to this difficulty. With the new Earth Copilot tool, users will be able to interact with NASA's data with natural language prompts, making it more accessible to more scientists, students and others. Tyler Bryson, CVP for US Health & Public Sector Industries at Microsoft, explained that data collected can include atmospheric conditions, land cover changes, ocean temperatures and more, but navigating technical interfaces, understanding data formats and getting to grips with geospatial analysis can be extremely challenging. With the new Earth Copilot tool, users will be able to ask questions like "What was the impact of Hurricane Ian in Sanibel Island?" or "How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect air quality in the US?" and let AI do the data retrieval for them. "We've designed the system to handle complex queries and large datasets efficiently, ensuring that users can quickly find the information they need without getting bogged down by technical complexities," noted Juan Carlos López, former NASA engineer and current Azure Specialist at Microsoft. A side effect of the project is that Microsoft and NASA have democratized access to spaceborne data, allowing a broader demographic to interact with it, including students and academics. Minh Nguyen, Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft, added: "The vision behind this collaboration was to leverage AI and cloud technologies to bring Earth's insights to communities that have been underserved, where access to data can lead to tangible improvements."

Microsoft confirms its creating a new AI that's trained on NASA's 100 petabytes of Earth data

NASA has been capturing valuable data on our planet for many years now, and according to a recent blog post from Microsoft, the US space agency has gathered more than 100 petabytes of data on various Earth-related scientific domains. Microsoft has announced that it's partnering with NASA to create a new AI chatbot that will be trained on NASA's mountain of Earth data. The goal of the new AI chatbot is to make it easier to shift through the plethora of data NASA has gathered, making it easier to answer questions about the planet. The new AI chatbot will be called Earth Copilot, and its purpose is to "democratize" access to scientific data, while also developing a keen understanding of the information within NASA's databases. Tyler Bryson, Microsoft's corporate vice president of health and public sector industries, explained in the announcement that those interested in acquiring Earth-related answers through scientific data have to know how to navigate technical interfaces, understand how to correctly interpret data, and have already acquired other various specialized skills. However, with the implementation of Earth Copilot, users will be able to engage with the chatbot through natural language and then be presented with answers cleanly and concisely. This would considerably speed up the time it takes to gain an insight. "The vision behind this collaboration was to leverage AI and cloud technologies to bring Earth's insights to communities that have been underserved, where access to data can lead to tangible improvements," said Minh Nguyen, Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft. "By enabling users to interact with the data through simple, plain language queries, we're helping to democratize access to spaceborne information."

Microsoft and NASA intro Earth Copilot

Proof of concept allows geospatial datasets to be conversationally queried Speculation over where Microsoft would take the Copilot brand next can now end thanks to the announcement of Earth Copilot in partnership with NASA. Rather than framing the planet as a successor to Deep Thought from the Hitchhiker's Guide in pursuit of the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything, this AI implementation is instead designed to help users navigate the petabytes of data collected from Earth observation satellites. Geospatial data is tricky to work with and currently accessible to only a limited number of scientists and researchers. This challenge is set to worsen as more data is generated from more satellites equipped with improved instruments. Microsoft wrote: "This issue isn't just a matter of convenience; it has real-world implications. For example, scientists who need to analyze historical data on hurricanes to improve predictive models, or policymakers who want to study deforestation patterns to implement environmental regulations, may find themselves unable to easily access the data they need. "This inaccessibility affects a broad array of sectors, including agriculture, urban planning, and disaster response, where timely insights from spaceborne data could make a significant difference." NASA is keen to make the data as accessible as possible, and to that end partnered with Microsoft to create a custom Copilot using the Azure OpenAI Service to make it easier for the general public to interact with the information. For instance, users could ask about the impact of Hurricane Ian on Sanibel Island, and the service would retrieve relevant datasets. However, as with any generative AI service, a user needs to exercise caution. The platform is currently a proof of concept undergoing testing by NASA scientists and researchers. Microsoft wrote: "Any responsible deployment of AI technologies requires rigorous assessments to ensure the data and outputs cannot be misused." Hopefully before anyone bases their proposals on the hallucinations of a chatbot. After a period of internal evaluation and testing, the hope is that the Earth Copilot will be integrated into NASA's Visualization, Exploration, and Data Analysis (VEDA) platform. This assumes it works as expected and that funding for Earth science research remains intact. ®

NASA tests new AI chatbot to make sense of complex data

Over the years, using its Earth-observing satellites, NASA has collected huge amounts of highly complex data about our planet, tracking climate change, monitoring wildfires, and plenty more besides. But making sense of it all, and bringing it to the masses, is a challenging endeavor. Until now, that is. Recommended Videos Harnessing the power of generative AI, NASA has teamed up with Microsoft to create Earth Copilot, a new AI-powered chat tool specifically designed to simplify how users access complex geospatial satellite imagery and data, potentially unlocking new insights and discoveries. While only a limited number of researchers and scientists can currently make sense of the data, Earth Copilot will bring it to an almost an unlimited audience, with curious folks able to probe the tool with questions for an exchange that's conversational in tone, similar to how you might already use ChatGPT or other similar generative-AI chat tools. Microsoft suggests that users might simply ask questions like: "What was the impact of Hurricane Ian in Sanibel Island?" or, "How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect air quality in the U.S.?" Earth Copilot will then dive into the relevant datasets before offering an answer that should be relatively easy to digest. "NASA's Earth Science Data Systems Program is responsible for collecting an incredible variety of data from spaceborne sensors and instruments," Microsoft said in an article introducing Earth Copilot. "This data spans everything from atmospheric conditions to land cover changes, ocean temperatures, and more. However, the sheer scale and complexity of this information can be overwhelming. For many, finding and extracting insights requires navigating technical interfaces, understanding data formats, and mastering the intricacies of geospatial analysis -- specialized skills that very few non-technical users possess. AI could streamline this process, reducing time to gain insights from Earth's data to a matter of seconds." Currently, Earth Copilot is being tested by NASA scientists and researchers to ensure its safety and reliability. The next step will be to integrate it into NASA's Visualization, Exploration, and Data Analysis (VEDA) platform, which makes it easier for users to search, discover, and analyze data related to Earth science.

NASA's AI Earth Copilot will take your questions about our planet

"For many, finding and extracting insights requires navigating technical interfaces, understanding data formats and mastering the intricacies of geospatial analysis -- specialized skills that very few non-technical users possess," Tyler Bryson, Microsoft's corporate vice president of health and public sector industries, said in the announcement. "AI could streamline this process, reducing time to gain insights from Earth's data to a matter of seconds.

Satya Nadella Touts Microsoft's Latest AI Mission: Making NASA's Earth Data Speak Plain English - Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)

Microsoft Corporation MSFT and NASA have introduced an AI tool, Earth Copilot, to simplify the access and understanding of Earth's scientific data. What Happened: On Thursday, the tech behemoth and the space agency announced the AI chatbot that can respond to queries about our planet by referring to NASA's vast data repository. The tool is intended to "democratize" access to scientific data, making it more comprehensible for non-researchers. Sharing the development on X, formerly Twitter, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said NASA's geospatial data offers insights on climate, air quality, and disasters, but its complexity makes it hard to navigate. "With Earth Copilot, they're making it easier than ever for anyone to access that data," he stated. See Also: Amazon's AI Investment, Palantir's Winning Strategy, Meta's Bee Problem, And Palantir's 'Eye-Popping' Results: This Week In AI At present, Earth Copilot is exclusively available to NASA scientists and researchers for evaluation of its capabilities. The subsequent step will be to consider its integration into NASA's Visualization, Exploration, and Data Analysis (VEDA)platform, which already provides access to some of the agency's data. Subscribe to the Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox. Why It Matters: This development comes in the wake of Microsoft's first-quarter earnings report, where the company highlighted the transformative role of AI in changing work dynamics. Microsoft reported revenue of $65.60 billion, a 16% year-over-year increase, surpassing the Street's consensus estimate of $64.51 billion, according to Benzinga Pro data. The company's AI business is set to hit a $10 billion revenue milestone in the second quarter, stated Nadella during the earnings call. Price Action: Microsoft shares closed Thursday's session with a 0.40% increase, finishing at $426.89. However, in after-hours trading, the stock saw a slight decline, settling at $426.20 as of the latest update. Photo by WEF on Flickr Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by following this link. Read Next: Bill Gates Introduced Windows 41 Years Ago Today: Here's How Much You'd Have If You Invested $1000 In Microsoft When It Went Public Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs