This slot at the main program of the Digital Summit 2023, organized by the ELLIS unit Jena, aimed to explore and discuss the opportunities arising from the past paradigm shift in artificial intelligence (AI) towards generative, science-guided, and interactive AI. The focus was on developing predictive early warning and decision support systems in Germany to address climate and environmental changes and their socially relevant risks. The ultimate goal was to enhance foresight and evidence-based action options for climate and biodiversity crises. Given the high relevance of AI, digitization, and climate change, the event emphasized practical solutions and the utilization of AI in detecting and adapting to climate risks, such as extremes and their impacts. The integration of AI across the entire early warning chain, from observation to predictions, warnings, and decisions, was explored. The event also highlighted the potential of AI as a crucial factor in building resilience against climate and biodiversity crises, as well as adapting to climate extremes and systemic risks.

In the context of the Digital Summit 2023, the event aligned with the focus on resilience through digital transformation. It emphasized that sustainable development must consider resilience to shocks, such as climate extremes and pandemics (Reichstein et al. 2021, Nature, https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-00927-x). Early warning systems, recognized by the United Nations as “Early Warnings for all,” (https://www.undrr.org/early-warnings-for-all) played a central role in this context. The event aimed to support a resilient and forward-looking digital transformation, discussing innovative approaches for improved early warning systems. The focus was on exploring how AI could be leveraged in these areas to develop effective early warning systems beyond purely weather-based approaches, with the potential to prevent disasters.