OpenAI AI Jam for Disaster Management in Asia

OpenAI has launched an inaugural AI Jam for Disaster Management professionals in Bangkok, bringing together 50 leaders from 13 countries across Southeast and South Asia to develop practical AI applications for emergency response. This initiative aims to move disaster response teams from theoretical interest in AI to the implementation of real-world operational tools to improve response speed and effectiveness.

Operational Challenges in Disaster Response

Disaster response teams in Asia frequently operate in resource-constrained environments characterized by fragmented data, manual processes, and limited infrastructure. These constraints often delay critical decision-making during fast-moving crises. This urgency is underscored by the the fact that Asia is the world's most disaster-prone region, affecting an estimated 75% of people globally. According to the World Bank, disasters have cost ASEAN countries over $11 billion in previous years.

AI Adoption Trends During Crises

Internal data from OpenAI indicates a surge in AI usage for information seeking during natural disasters. During Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka, there was a 17x increase in cyclone-related messages on ChatGPT. Similarly, during Cyclone Senyar in November 2025, Thailand experienced a 3.2x jump in message volume compared to previous months. These trends suggest a significant opportunity to integrate AI directly into the information gathering and communication workflows of response teams.

Practical AI Solutions and Implementation

Participants in the AI Jam worked with OpenAI mentors to create custom GPTs and reusable workflows for specific operational tasks, including:

• Situation reporting: Streamlining the reporting of current conditions on the ground.
• Needs assessment: Identifying and resource allocation based on community needs.
• Needs assessment: Identifying and resource allocation based on community needs.
• Public communication: Improving how information is delivered to affected populations.

The program emphasizes responsible use and the building of institutional trust. This effort builds upon the expansion of the OpenAI for Countries Program announced at Davos.

Regional Partnerships and Future Outlook

The initiative is a collaboration between OpenAI, the Gates Foundation, the Foundation, the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (APDC), and DataKind.

"AI is opening new possibilities for how we understand and respond to disasters. ADPC integrates AI into geospatial tools and risk analytics to transform satellite and earth observation data into actionable insights," stated Mr. Aslam Perwaiz, ADPC Executive Director.

OpenAI and its partners are currently exploring a second phase of the initiative, which will focus on pilot deployments and deeper technical collaboration with participating organizations across the region.