Doha – Morocco has implemented artificial intelligence technology in its weather forecasting systems to enhance the accuracy of early warnings for extreme weather events, the General Directorate of Meteorology (DGM) recently announced.
Several AI applications are already operational, particularly for improving short-term forecasts of local weather phenomena such as fog, thunderstorms, and sandstorms through automated satellite image analysis, DGM officials told SNRTnews on Friday.
The system utilizes machine learning algorithms to generate probabilistic forecasts and decision-making tools for weather-related risks. DGM is also using AI to integrate data from ground stations, satellites, and radar systems to create artificial initial weather conditions for prediction models.
“These developments are progressively transforming how meteorological data serves society,” a DGM spokesperson said.
The weather forecasting initiative is part of Morocco’s broader push toward AI adoption across multiple sectors. Last month, Moroccan Minister of Digital Transition Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni met with US State Department officials to advance bilateral AI cooperation.
Moroccan lawmakers proposed a bill in April 2024 to regulate artificial intelligence, aiming to curb misuse and establish a national AI agency.
Introduced by the Moroccan Labor Union’s parliamentary group, the draft law outlines plans for a national AI strategy, talent development, and ethical oversight.
A study released in January by Mohammed V University researchers revealed immense impacts in Morocco’s banking sector. Banks implementing AI reported 30% faster operational processing times and 15% increased monthly revenue in branches with high AI adoption rates.
“The results demonstrate clearly that adoption of AI contributes to substantial improvement in operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and commercial performance indicators,” researchers Rachid Maghniwi and Mustapha Oukassi noted in their findings.
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In July 2024, the Ministry of Justice announced plans to implement AI for transcribing court judgments through voice dictation and automating court session documentation. Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi outlined the initiative in response to a parliamentary inquiry.
“A mechanism that allows automatic conversion of speech to written text will help judges draft judgments in less time, thus speeding up the execution of remaining judicial procedures,” Ouahbi said.
Morocco has established itself as an influential player in global AI development. The country co-presented the first-ever UN resolution on artificial intelligence with the United States in March 2024, gaining support from 123 Member States.
By June 2024, both countries established the Group of Friends on Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development at the UN headquarters in New York.
A Boston Consulting Group survey conducted as part of the 2023 CCI Global Consumer Sentiment Survey ranked Morocco as the second-highest user of ChatGPT globally after India, with 80% of Moroccan consumers aware of the technology and 38% actively using it.
The DGM’s weather forecasting system, rolled out in July 2023, includes AI applications for climate system classification and long-term trend identification, contributing to climate change research.
The system analyzes massive data from satellites, radars, and weather stations to detect sudden changes and anticipate dangerous phenomena like cyclones and floods with sufficient warning time.
It also provides various products, including probability maps, graphs, and classification sheets based on phenomenon danger levels, offering concrete support for meteorological decision-making.
