With the COVID-19 pandemic creating havoc throughout the world, scientists and researchers are striving to figure out the nature of the infection, the way the disease spreads and discovering an effective vaccine. When the entire world is grappling to fight the epidemic, innovative technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning are helping the government, health care, and businesses to fight and overcome the pandemic. Again, artificial intelligence in businesses is helping them to work quickly, smartly, as well as doing more tasks in significantly less time and effort to enhance and simplify business operations.
Machine learning and AI are playing a pivotal role to understand and battle the pandemic better, allowing computers to mimic human knowledge and consume loads of data to distinguish useful insights. It helps in figuring out the mode of infection spread and speeding up investigation and corona treatment. Here is how:
Determine and monitor infection spreading
BlueDot, a Canada-based AI firm built an AI application showing the red flag to the whole world about the COVID-19 virus, once China reported the very first case on 31 December 2019. The AI application was developed to predict contagious diseases, spot, and monitor the spread of such ailments.
The AI program works by coalescing AI with epidemiologists’ knowledge to figure out where and how to find proof of rising ailments. Artificial intelligence in businesses helps in evaluating numerous reports daily in various languages and sending periodic alerts to hospitals, public health customers, administration, and companies, just like BlueDot assessed more than 100,000 reports.
AI together with machine learning helps to flag and monitor potential virus carriers, especially when it comes to identifying individuals with fever in a big crowd, using smart glasses powered with AI technology. These glasses, worn by security professionals help in checking several people within a couple of minutes and that too, with zero contact. It is better than manual temperature measurement because the same takes more time and increases cross-infection risks.
Accelerate research, understand corona, and ensure treatment
AI and machine learning are assisting business leaders in making informed decisions concerning COVID-19 and its possible spread. Artificial intelligence in businesses with the help of an AI model and predictive technologies identifies individuals, who are greatly at risk of acute complexities concerning the coronavirus.
Businesses are assessing methods to limit the COVID-19 spread when it comes to the vulnerable and general population. The use of AI will help in collating data or information to identify people, who are most susceptible to catching the corona infection in a high-risk area or zone. Advanced technologies as well as open-source, synchronized efforts are speeding up research on AI-based applications or programs to fight the epidemic.
Image scanning study and diminishing healthcare employees’ workload
The major challenge to fight the coronavirus is testing, though Germany and South Korea succeeded in managing the deadly virus because of the significant number of tests performed in these two countries. Therefore, the healthcare authorities are eager to add to the number of testing, though the key testing approaches consume much time and labor-intensive. Thanks to artificial intelligence in businesses, which is helping in other advanced kinds of testing like x-ray scans.
Now, you will find several AI programs for the screening of chest conditions to identify abnormalities in the human lung through chest x-rays scans. It helps to assess the risks associated with COVID-19 quickly compared to radiologists.
An effective response to the corona crisis and effective healing process
Search engines and social media platforms are leveraging customized AI tools and data and based on the algorithms helping in determining and eradicating complex materials on such platforms. It has helped in fighting COVID-19 disinformation and misconceptions. Smart, conversational, and intelligent AI programs help in responding to the pandemic using personalized information, learning, direction, and treatment.
AI and machine learning technologies helped in identifying, discovering, and reaching out to highly susceptible and helpless individuals. Fortunately, artificial intelligence in businesses helps you to find out about patients who are extremely vulnerable to the infection and have higher possibilities of contracting respiratory ailments.
Both machine learning and AI play a significant part in the education and training of medical and healthcare experts. Did you know that AI applications and tools help in keeping track of the financial crisis and possible recovery? Satellite, social media, as well as other data, help in gaining early warning for possible corona eruptions in the days to come.
Virtual assistants and chatbots are beneficial to assist hospitals and health centers, such tools help in testing people, depending on the proximity of COVID-19 symptoms. Artificial intelligence in businesses, like in companies such as Microsoft has introduced chatbots to help individuals figure out the best possible action based on their particular symptoms.
The use of contact tracing tools and applications
When it comes to contact-tracing applications, these are rampant in Asia, especially in Hong Kong, China, South Korea, and Singapore. These apps are also used in various parts of the globe including Italy, India, as well as Israel, while the use of artificial intelligence in businesses is gaining traction and popularity in other countries of the world.
Though these apps vary when it comes to the way they function, but usually use the data in smartphones to detect a user’s location or whereabouts, thereby sensing proximity and contact with other people.
AI algorithms can figure out the possibilities of cross-infection and warn those users of the probable risks. Let us explain this point with the help of a suitable example. For instance, an application tested for use by the UK administration that functions by leveraging the Bluetooth technology to recognize other mobile phone users, who are close to others. Therefore, an individual not infected but close to a person with corona symptoms could stay safe by receiving an alert through the AI-based app.
AI-based robots help in reducing human contact
These days, several AI-based robots did emerge after the corona outbreak to fight the pandemic by diminishing contact between doctors, health experts, and patients, thus alleviating the risks associated with cross-infection.
If you consider artificial intelligence in businesses, especially Chinese companies that are using robots and drones to ensure zero-contact delivery as well as spray sanitizers or disinfectants to reduce the hazards of cross-infection.
There are other robots keeping track of people with fever or other corona symptoms and distributing hand sanitizer gel and foam. Did you know that robots are used for serving medication and food to patients, sanitizing rooms, and reducing human contact to check the spread of infection?
Even robot dogs are used that help medical professionals examine patients in American hospitals. Boston Dynamics, a company based out of the US, created a dog called Spot, which is used to minimize contact with first-line healthcare workers, who are treating possibly infected people.
The use of wearable technology for detecting heart issues
The use of artificial intelligence in businesses made headlines, especially in the case of Apple, when the technology giant used the Apple Watch to identify common heart problems leveraging machine learning. However, patterns when it comes to resting heart rate could be pinpointing to the more particular symptoms, as well as the use of a few preliminary types of research. It has been possible with the use of Fitbit data indicating that alterations in resting heart rate will help to recognize ILI, implying patients showing influenza-like illness or symptoms. It is true indeed that this is a long way from detecting corona precisely, though the research has begun and ongoing.
Again, OURA research, sleep as well as an activity-monitoring ring, makes the use of human body temperature, rate of breathing, and heart rate to help identify onset patterns, development, as well as recuperation for corona.
Final thoughts
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are essential tools to help us battle the COVID-19 pandemic. With artificial intelligence in businesses, you can make the most out of such an opportunity to collate data, improve knowledge, and use the skills to save human lives from the deadly infection, today and in the days to come.
