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Your smartphone might be the most unexpected tool in the fight against earthquakes. Since 2020, Google has been turning billions of Android devices into a global seismic detection network, capable of spotting earthquakes in real time and alerting users before the worst shaking begins.
Using built-in accelerometers—the same sensors that detect screen rotation—Android phones can recognize the earliest seismic P-waves that precede more violent S-waves. When enough nearby devices detect similar vibrations, Google’s servers triangulate the data and issue location-based alerts through the Android Earthquake Alerts System (AEA). Two types of notifications are sent: a “Be Aware” alert for minor tremors and a loud “Take Action” alarm for stronger quakes, even overriding Do Not Disturb settings.
From 2021 to 2024, the system detected more than 18,000 earthquakes across 98 countries, issuing over 790 million alerts. In one Turkish quake alone, 16 million warnings were sent out. In some cases, users received up to a minute of advance notice—enough time to find safety. Still, the system isn’t flawless. In the devastating 2023 Turkey-Syria quakes, algorithmic underestimation meant too many people got milder alerts, or none at all. Google has since retrained its models to improve magnitude detection.
The AEA doesn’t require specialized infrastructure, making it especially valuable in regions lacking traditional seismic networks. Its reach already covers 2.5 billion people—up from 250 million in 2019. It’s also being integrated into Wear OS smartwatches, ensuring alerts reach people even when their phones aren’t nearby. As machine learning continues to improve detection accuracy, the future of earthquake safety may lie right in your pocket.
Source: 10.1126/science.ads4779
Using built-in accelerometers—the same sensors that detect screen rotation—Android phones can recognize the earliest seismic P-waves that precede more violent S-waves. When enough nearby devices detect similar vibrations, Google’s servers triangulate the data and issue location-based alerts through the Android Earthquake Alerts System (AEA). Two types of notifications are sent: a “Be Aware” alert for minor tremors and a loud “Take Action” alarm for stronger quakes, even overriding Do Not Disturb settings.
From 2021 to 2024, the system detected more than 18,000 earthquakes across 98 countries, issuing over 790 million alerts. In one Turkish quake alone, 16 million warnings were sent out. In some cases, users received up to a minute of advance notice—enough time to find safety. Still, the system isn’t flawless. In the devastating 2023 Turkey-Syria quakes, algorithmic underestimation meant too many people got milder alerts, or none at all. Google has since retrained its models to improve magnitude detection.
The AEA doesn’t require specialized infrastructure, making it especially valuable in regions lacking traditional seismic networks. Its reach already covers 2.5 billion people—up from 250 million in 2019. It’s also being integrated into Wear OS smartwatches, ensuring alerts reach people even when their phones aren’t nearby. As machine learning continues to improve detection accuracy, the future of earthquake safety may lie right in your pocket.
Source: 10.1126/science.ads4779
Your smartphone might be the most unexpected tool in the fight against earthquakes. Since 2020, Google has been turning billions of Android devices into a global seismic detection network, capable of spotting earthquakes in real time and alerting users before the worst shaking begins.
Using built-in accelerometers—the same sensors that detect screen rotation—Android phones can recognize the earliest seismic P-waves that precede more violent S-waves. When enough nearby devices detect similar vibrations, Google’s servers triangulate the data and issue location-based alerts through the Android Earthquake Alerts System (AEA). Two types of notifications are sent: a “Be Aware” alert for minor tremors and a loud “Take Action” alarm for stronger quakes, even overriding Do Not Disturb settings.
From 2021 to 2024, the system detected more than 18,000 earthquakes across 98 countries, issuing over 790 million alerts. In one Turkish quake alone, 16 million warnings were sent out. In some cases, users received up to a minute of advance notice—enough time to find safety. Still, the system isn’t flawless. In the devastating 2023 Turkey-Syria quakes, algorithmic underestimation meant too many people got milder alerts, or none at all. Google has since retrained its models to improve magnitude detection.
The AEA doesn’t require specialized infrastructure, making it especially valuable in regions lacking traditional seismic networks. Its reach already covers 2.5 billion people—up from 250 million in 2019. It’s also being integrated into Wear OS smartwatches, ensuring alerts reach people even when their phones aren’t nearby. As machine learning continues to improve detection accuracy, the future of earthquake safety may lie right in your pocket.
Source: 10.1126/science.ads4779
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