From July 26 to 27, the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference convened in Shanghai, assembling meteorological experts from 26 countries and regions and representatives from eight major international organizations, including the World Meteorological Organization, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, International Telecommunication Union, and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The Meteorological Forum, co-organized by the China Meteorological Administration and World Meteorological Organization, centered its discussions on the transformative role of artificial intelligence in early warning systems and disaster risk reduction worldwide.
Key speeches from figures such as Dr. Chen Zhenlin (China Meteorological Administration), Prof. Celeste Saulo (World Meteorological Organization), and Mr. Zhang Xiaohong (Shanghai municipal government) set the tone for the event. Dr. Chen emphasized China’s commitment to boosting early warning capabilities using technological innovation, open international cooperation, and sharing best practices in support of the United Nations´ Early Warnings for All initiative. Prof. Saulo praised China’s integrated early warning framework, touting it as a model that synergizes government leadership, department collaboration, and broad social engagement for rapid, life-first forecasting. Zhang Xiaohong outlined Shanghai’s ambitions to leverage artificial intelligence to invigorate meteorological science and urban governance, while strengthening global collaboration for sustainable development.
The forum saw the launch of MAZU: a Joint Action for Early Warnings for All, together with the introduction of the MAZU-Urban artificial intelligence agent for multi-hazard forecasting and “Fengyu”—a comprehensive artificial intelligence-powered space weather forecasting model. Expert panels and round tables explored technical advances in artificial intelligence-driven meteorological forecasting, disaster emergency response integration, public-private engagement, and scaling up early warning systems globally. The forum also featured a dedicated exhibition showcasing China’s practical achievements with artificial intelligence in meteorology, including live demonstrations of innovative models and operational deployments. Collectively, the event underscored international momentum toward making artificial intelligence-enabled early warning systems more inclusive, precise, and actionable for populations everywhere.