The Artificial Intelligence for Nowcasting Pilot Project (AINPP), envisioned as a WMO WIPPS pilot project, emerges in a critical era where high-impact weather events are increasingly affecting socio-economic developments worldwide. These events present significant challenges, especially in developing countries of the tropics, due to the inherent low predictability of convective storms, limitations in weather forecasting capabilities and resource constraints.

AINPP is a response to this global challenge, conceptualized under the auspices of the WMO. It aligns with the WMO's strategic focus on implementing new technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), to enhance earth system observations and predictions. This initiative is part of the broader commitment to the Early Warning for All initiative, which aims to provide protection against extreme weather events for every individual on the planet.

The use of AI in weather nowcasting represents a paradigm shift in meteorological studies, offering an unprecedented opportunity to harness advanced technologies for enhancing severe weather nowcasting capabilities. AI-based nowcasting is particularly promising for developing countries as it can be developed and implemented more easily and with fewer barriers compared to traditional Numerical Weather Prediction methods.

AINPP's inception is driven by the recognition of the rapid deployment of AI-based nowcasting in various regions and the necessity for National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in low- and middle-income countries to access effective and reliable nowcasting solutions. The project focuses on evaluating and demonstrating the potential of AI technology in improving severe weather nowcasting and strengthening the capabilities of targeted developing countries to provide early warning services

The project convenes an international collaboration of experts, including AI-advanced participants and representatives from developing countries, to develop, evaluate, and implement AI-based nowcasting prototypes. Progress in AI-based nowcasting is coming in parallel from the public and private sectors: AINPP is working to bring these communities together. These efforts aim at increasing the accuracy of early warning systems, thus saving lives and mitigating weather-related losses.

The AINPP stands as a pioneering effort in the application of AI in the WMO community, with the potential to set a global benchmark in weather prediction and early warning systems, especially in regions vulnerable to extreme weather events to support the Early Warning for All Initiative.