'We want to let people know before floods hit them'

Back at Google, Mr Matias is optimistic about the future extent of the impact AI can have on flood prediction. “Ideally, I’d love to get to a point where nobody is surprised by a flood coming their way, or for that matter, any other natural disaster, so that people can be prepared, and we’re not going to see loss of lives in places, or damages in places, that we don’t have to,” he says.