The Pie: An Economics Podcast You Might Also Like: Farmer’s A.I. Manac, from Shocked
Nov 4, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Michael Greenstone, an economist and director at the University of Chicago's Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth, teams up with Pedram Hassanzadeh, a researcher specializing in AI and weather. They dive into the benefits of AI in creating personalized weather forecasts, particularly for smallholder farmers facing climate challenges. The conversation highlights how modern AI outperforms traditional models, and how accessible forecasting can empower farmers, helping them adapt to climate realities and make informed planting decisions.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
AI Democratizes Local Weather Forecasts
- AI enables complex, localized weather forecasts on a single laptop instead of supercomputers.
- This democratizes high-quality forecasting for farmers in low-income regions.
Astrologers Fill Forecast Gaps
- Farmers in villages sometimes consult local astrologers for planting guidance when forecasts are poor.
- The government monsoon forecast (over Kerala) often doesn't provide village-level actionable timing.
Existing Models Are Costly And Misaligned
- Physics-based weather models are expensive and concentrated in a few rich countries.
- Low-income countries often rely on forecasts tuned to other climates, reducing usefulness for local farmers.