Khosla Ventures backs weather balloon startup that uses AI to upend forecasts

This summer’s hurricane season is projected to be one of the busiest on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The market for weather forecasting is being disrupted by artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Startups like Tomorrow.io, Google DeepMind, and a California-based company are using new technologies to revolutionize weather prediction. For example, Windborne uses advanced weather balloons that can stay in the air for weeks, collecting 40 to 50 times more data than government-launched balloons. The company aims to close the gap in weather data coverage, which currently stands at 85% of the atmosphere. Demand for data in this market is growing rapidly, with potential applications in various industries. Windborne has recently secured $15 million in funding from Khosla Ventures and other investors.