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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Disasters & Emergencies

Taiwan's Typhoon Holiday Debate: AI Powerhouse Relies on Subjective Decisions

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Opinion Named sources Context piece
  • Taiwan's decision-making process for typhoon holidays, often based on subjective judgment by local leaders, is being questioned.
  • Critics argue that in an AI-driven era, data and predictive models should inform these decisions rather than individual discretion.
  • The current system, where one mayor's decision can impact national economic activities like stock trading, is seen as inefficient and outdated.

The recent decision to grant typhoon holidays in Taiwan, particularly during Typhoon Barway, has sparked debate about the country's reliance on subjective judgment rather than data-driven approaches. Hsieh Chin-ho, chairman of the Financial TV media group, criticized the practice, questioning why Taiwan, often lauded as an AI powerhouse, does not leverage AI data and predictive models for such crucial decisions.

We often say Taiwan is an AI powerhouse, but why is the decision on whether to take a holiday completely based on the subjective will of local leaders?

— Hsieh Chin-hoQuestioning the reliance on subjective judgment for typhoon holidays despite Taiwan's AI capabilities.

"We often say Taiwan is an AI powerhouse, but why is the decision on whether to take a holiday completely based on the subjective will of local leaders?" Hsieh asked, referring to the typhoon holiday as a "political holiday." He argued that in the age of AI, city and national governance, like corporate governance, should incorporate more technological assistance. Granting local leaders such significant authority over people's schedules and economic activities is being challenged.

Yesterday's typhoon holiday, everyone said it was a political holiday!

— Hsieh Chin-hoCharacterizing the typhoon holiday decision as politically motivated.

Hsieh pointed out that Taiwan's approach contrasts with other regions. Hong Kong, for instance, bases its typhoon holiday decisions on the signal level (specifically, the No. 8 typhoon signal). Japan does not have official typhoon holidays, leaving such decisions to individual companies. In Taiwan, however, a single mayor's decision to suspend work and classes can halt national economic activities, including stock market trading and banking operations, raising questions about the rationality and efficiency of this centralized, yet subjectively determined, system.

City governance, like national governance and corporate governance, has entered the AI era, with more technological assistance. Why should everyone give local leaders so much power to decide everyone's work and rest?

— Hsieh Chin-hoArguing for the integration of technology in governance decisions.

The current method of deciding typhoon holidays, which has been a topic of discussion for a long time in Taiwan without a definitive resolution, is seen by critics as lagging behind technological advancements. The call is for a return to scientific methods, utilizing AI's predictive capabilities to ensure more accurate and consistent decisions that minimize disruption and optimize economic activity, rather than relying on the personal discretion of local officials.

How to take a typhoon holiday? Taiwan has discussed it for a long time, but no one dares to make a final decision! We often say that Taiwan has entered the AI era, and AI computing and prediction have long been part of city governance.

— Hsieh Chin-hoHighlighting the lack of a clear policy and the potential of AI in decision-making.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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