New York City has implemented a new drone warning system to warn residents of dangerous weather conditions. Unfortunately, drones need to work in Spanish.
A resident spotted one of the new drones delivering flood warnings to NYC neighborhoods in English and Spanish on Wednesday, but the Spanish words coming out of the drones were “unintelligible,” according to one resident who shared. .
As a native Spanish speaker, I can confidently say that this is incomprehensible. Couldn’t the city find a single Spanish speaker to deliver this warning? https://t.co/uI9ERCuDmV
— Josefa Velasquez (@J__Velasquez) August 6, 2024
The drones had no problem delivering a weather warning in English as it conveyed the news of an incoming heavy rain party in a clear and distinct tone. And the Spanish message sounded like a robot speaking that language for the first time.
Zach School, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Emergency Management, in response.
“I’m very proud of the work our team did to prepare for this storm, but it didn’t have to happen and we’re going to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Iskoll wrote in his response.
On Tuesday, it published a story about a new emergency alert drone system. The city sent drones into communities around 1 a.m. to alert residents of the downpour. The school told the newspaper that New York Mayor Eric Adams came up with the idea of using drones as a new part of the warning system. Adams launched similar, technology-heavy initiatives during his tenure Patrolling the Times Square subway station and controversial It is also known as “Digidog” for use by the New York Police Department in dangerous situations such as hostage confrontations.
