Rumors and misinformation that spread online during emergencies, like hurricanes Helene and Milton, raise concern that content created by artificial intelligence (AI) might make the job of emergency managers even more difficult. After Hurricane Helene, law enforcement and government agencies were forced to devote precious time to combating conspiracy theories, including allegations that land had been bulldozed to cover up dead bodies. Countering this AI-powered misinformation understandably took a toll on responder morale. But at the same time, AI's ability to ingest and synthesize data on hazards, vulnerabilities, and capacities could also prove invaluable in addressing one of the biggest longstanding challenges of emergency management: truly engaging the whole community.…
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