AI program delivers $1,000 cash relief to hurricane-affected households in North Carolina and Florida

Nearly 1,000 households in North Carolina and Florida affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton will receive $1,000 cash payments on Friday. This aid comes from GiveDirectly, a nonprofit using artificial intelligence to identify areas with high poverty and storm damage. The program allows eligible households to enroll via a smartphone app, streamlining the application process. This approach contrasts with previous methods, which required in-person enrollment and took weeks to distribute funds. GiveDirectly has raised $1.2 million for this initiative, aiming to improve disaster aid efficiency. While the program has limitations, such as accessibility for those without smartphones, it hopes to inspire similar direct payment models in disaster relief.