Taipei Mayor Defends Typhoon Day Decisions Amid AI Debate

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an defended the city's decision-making process for typhoon day closures, asserting that all decisions adhere to established mechanisms and are coordinated through a platform involving four major cities. His remarks followed public criticism, notably from PChome chairman Alex Xie, who questioned why AI data and predictive models were not utilized, suggesting that typhoon day declarations were based solely on the subjective judgment of local leaders. Former minister Zhang Jinsong also called for central government intervention to revoke the discretionary power of local mayors. Chiang reiterated that the primary consideration remains the safety of citizens, advocating for a 'prepare for the worst, hope for the best' strategy to mitigate potential disasters. He acknowledged past discussions about centralizing the decision-making authority but confirmed that, currently, the city operates under the existing framework. The debate highlights a tension between traditional, localized decision-making and the potential of advanced technologies like AI in public safety management.

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All decisions are made according to the current mechanism and are discussed through the platform of the four major cities.