Leveraging Artificial Intelligence Tools to Combat the COVID-19 Crisis

Abstract

The severity of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has shaken the world forcefully and sent economies into difficult times. As stated by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020, the impact of the current unprecedented situation will cause the major cost of lives and financial damage across the globe. The various stakeholders, including scientists, doctors, economists, politicians, are seeking the help of data scientist to explore disruptive technologies which can aid in reducing the pandemic's effects. In these unprecedented times, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising tool which can play a huge role in various domains. There are several fields where disruptive technologies like AI is utilised to the fight against COVID-19 such as generating real-time warnings and alerts, tracing prediction, interactive dashboards, diagnosing risks, suggesting treatments and cures, facilitating "contactless" deliveries, and social control. The focus of the present study is to analyze the contribution of AI to track and fight against COVID-19.

Harnessing artificial intelligence in the post-COVID-19 era: A global health imperative

“…In navigating this complex landscape, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), a technology that simulates human intelligence processes by machines, particularly computer, 2 into global health systems emerges as an innovative and sustainable strategy. 3,4 AI, as it stands, encompasses learning (the acquisition of information and rules for using the information), reasoning (using the rules to reach approximate or definite conclusions), and self-correction. 2,5 It is important to note that AI's ability to process and analyze data accurately depends on the quality and veracity of the data it receives.…”

“…4 In disease surveillance and prediction, AI tools like Canada's BlueDot and Boston Children's Hospital's HealthMap leveraged diverse data sources in real-time, enabling early detection and tracking of COVID-19 cases. 3,4 Diagnostic and prognostic applications of AI, such as the model developed by the University of Oxford for interpreting chest radiographs, enhanced clinical decision-making processes. AI also played a significant role in accelerating drug discovery and vaccine development processes.…”

Exploiting artificial intelligence for combating COVID-19: a review and appraisal

“…It was announced on December 31 st , 2019, that a Canadian health-monitoring business named "BlueDot" has discovered a new, pneumonia-like ailment in China's Wuhan province. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) [9], this notice was made seven days before the formal alarm issued by the United States (US) centers for disease control and prevention (CDC). Using AI and enormous volumes of health and non-health data, BlueDot was able to accurately forecast.…”

The Big Data and Machine Learning in Managing Global Health Crises : The Case of the Covid-19 Pandemic

“…In this era of Big Data analysis specific to Covid-19, Machine Learning has been a key driver in the management of the pandemic. Using intelligent algorithms, Machine Learning has enabled scientists and epidemiologists to understand epidemiological trends and predict the spread of the virus [5]. By analyzing health, mobility, demographic and environmental data, these prediction models have provided essential information to guide policymakers in their actions.…”