About NCAI

Our Vision

To empower the proliferation of AI at NOAA by lowering the cost of engaging curiosity through AI applications to capture mission value through its Community of Practice.

Our Mission

NCAI will serve as a central repository for AI-ready data and tools, and facilitate awareness and collaborations on AI efforts across NOAA. NCAI will enable NOAA communication activities with interagency, academic, and industry partnerships to increase awareness of NOAA R&D to utilize AI applications to improve organizational and operational efficiencies.

NCAI will establish guidelines to leverage and adopt the principles, processes, and partnerships articulated in the NOAA Data and Cloud Strategies, including the NOAA Big Data Program.

AI/ML tools accelerate analysis of large volumes of data in order to speed scientific discoveries that inform U.S. fishery and ocean management policy. Faster analysis will also allow NOAA scientists to answer a larger number of questions using a given dataset, increasing the value of the data collected using U.S. tax dollars.

Ben Richards, NOAA Fisheries Biologist

Artificial intelligence is one of six key Science & Technology (S&T) Focus Areas that will advance NOAA's mission success. Cloud computing and data are two additional focus areas. The strategies for each focus area are designed to more fully accelerate advances and serve as force multipliers to solve tough problems and set the course to strengthen NOAA's S&T path for the coming decades.

Artificial Intelligence Strategy | Cloud Computing Strategy | Data Strategy

Who We Are

NCAI Governance Model
NCAI Governance Model (NCAI)
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As a program in the formulation stage, the NCAI development team is made up of members from several of NOAA’s Line Offices. With functionalities distributed across NOAA, the Center is programmatically organized under the National Centers for Environment Information (NCEI).  

NCAI teams develop and further the mission and vision of the organization. They volunteer their time to create a new environment within NOAA to further the knowledge and skills of the workforce, and promote collaboration in scientific development, both within the organization, and with external partners and stakeholders.

Dr. Robert Redmon (NOAA) gives a talk titled "NOAA Center for Artificial Intelligence: Progress Toward an AI-Ready Agency" on May 18, 2022, as part of the NCAR Computational and Information Systems Laboratory (CISL) Seminar Series.

NCAI Timeline

  • 2019
     A NOAA ocean glider, seen in waters off the coast of Puerto Rico in July 2018. These robotic, unmanned gliders are equipped with sensors to measure the salt content (salinity) and temperature as they move through the ocean at different depths. The gliders, which can operate in hurricane conditions, collect data during dives down to a half mile below the sea surface, and transmit the data to satellites when they surface.
    Fall
    NOAA News

    NOAA announces Science and Technology (S&T) Focus Areas, AI being one of four
  • 2020
     Strategy in chess
    Winter
    NOAA Artificial Intelligence Strategy

    AI S&T Strategy released
  • 2020
     Water Column Sonar Data
    Summer

    Summer Challenge begins to interview more than 40 NOAA staff to determine the extent and scope of AI/ML practices within NOAA and determine needs to advance AI/ML adoption in NOAA.

    Three summer challenge demonstration projects get underway: Water Column Sonar, ZarrDAP Land Surface Temperature, Magnetic Modeling (Dst)

    2nd NOAA AI Workshop held virtually and NCAI-level Community of Practice is officially launched
  • 2021
     US Government
    Winter
    NDAA Executive Summary

    National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) officially authorizes the NCAI; The National AI Initiative Act of 2020 becomes law, and AI.gov is soon launched
  • 2021
     NOAA AI Workshop 2021 banner
    Summer
    AI Workshop Summary

    NCAI Lead Rob Redmon selected, and 3rd AI Workshop scheduled
Our Vision

To empower the proliferation of AI at NOAA by lowering the cost of engaging curiosity through AI applications to capture mission value through its Community of Practice.

Our Mission

NCAI will serve as a central repository for AI-ready data and tools, and facilitate awareness and collaborations on AI efforts across NOAA. NCAI will enable NOAA communication activities with interagency, academic, and industry partnerships to increase awareness of NOAA R&D to utilize AI applications to improve organizational and operational efficiencies.

NCAI will establish guidelines to leverage and adopt the principles, processes, and partnerships articulated in the NOAA Data and Cloud Strategies, including the NOAA Big Data Program.