Google AI tops CDC's flu hospitalization forecasts
Google's AI model outperformed every competitor at predicting flu-related hospitalizations in the U.S. during the 2025-26 season, according to new CDC data. Google's forecasts, built with their Empirical Research Assistance tool, matched real hospital admissions more closely than 38 other teams in the CDC challenge. The CDC relies on these forecasts to gauge upcoming hospital demand each week.
- Google's AI beat 38 other flu forecasting models
- CDC uses these forecasts for weekly hospital planning
- Predictions spanned the current and next three weeks
- Google's tool, ERA, is built for scientific optimization
- ERA is now available to some testers as an experimental tool
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