Yandex announced yesterday the launch of ‘Meteum,’ a new machine learning-based technology for “hyper-local and super-accurate weather forecasting.”
“This new technology collects a massive volume of data about past forecasts made by external providers like WRF or Foreca, and compares them with the historical weather conditions to figure out the difference between what was forecasted and what happened in reality. It then compiles a mathematical formula to correct and refine future forecasts,” Yandex stated.
Meteum calculates a new forecast each time a user consults the Yandex.Weather web and mobile service. “It locates a person and shows them a fresh forecast for precisely that spot. The user can choose another place and time for the forecast to see what the weather will be like around their office in an hour or whether it might rain when they go out of town in the evening,” the company indicates.
Meteum currently works in 36 regions of Russia, but Yandex does not rule out extending it to other regions or countries.
Earlier this month, the Russian search giant launched ‘Yandex For The Media.’ Presented as a an “automated information agency,” this online platform provides “real-time and ready-to-broadcast” news on traffic jams and weather, as well as data on Yandex users’ search behavior.
Yandex claims it uses “special algorithms” to extract relevant content from its existing weather and road traffic services, and then to offer this content in the right textual format.
The platform thus allows TV channels and IPTV operators, radio stations, and online and print media to quickly prepare and broadcast news and analytical programs, says Yandex. A variety of tools are available, from graphic widgets for TV channels, to RSS feeds and news alerts for online media.
Among the other novelties from Yandex in the past few months have been chat bots for Telegram messenger, real-time mobile analytics and tracking tools, a multifunctional app for Android users in Russia, and a new media player service, christened ‘Yandex.Radio.’
