Economist Podcasts Electric eye: AI is helping fight terrorists
9 snips
Aug 22, 2024 
Shashank Joshi, The Economist's defence editor, discusses how AI is transforming the prediction of political violence, offering insights into innovations like Raven's Sentry in Afghanistan. Sarah Burke, the bureau chief for Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, highlights Cuba's looming economic collapse amidst rising discontent. Meanwhile, Oliver Carroll brings life from Odessa, Ukraine, where beach culture is thriving despite the ongoing conflict, showcasing resilience in the face of adversity.
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Nerd Locker in Kabul
- The "Nerd Locker", a special team, was formed in Kabul to analyze historical data on Afghan violence.
- They aimed to predict attacks and casualties by correlating data like social media, news, and satellite imagery.
Predictive Lighting Patterns
- Towns appeared darker before attacks, while insurgent areas became brighter, possibly indicating preparation.
- The AI model doesn't explain the correlations, making interpretations speculative.
Jalalabad Attack Prediction
- Raven's Sentry predicted a July 2020 attack in Jalalabad with 20-40 casualties.
- An attack occurred on August 2nd, killing 29, showcasing the model's predictive ability, albeit with some inaccuracy.