Unfortunately, lately corona is starting to reappear again and according to RIVM the ‘fall wave’ has started (NOS, 2022). To intervene as best as possible, Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be used in helping experts to address the COVID pandemic.
First of all, in brief, what exactly is Artificial Intelligence? In a nutshell, it is the automation of brainpower. Certain work that used to be done by humans is now being taken over by machines and systems that have advanced softwares built into them. These smart machines are very intelligent because they are not extensively pre-programmed. The jobs these machines have to do are not pre-determined but learned or taught themselves. The given problem must be very specific on which the system is trained, the software can mimic human thinking to a certain extent. So (fortunately) it cannot replace humans (Editorial KPN, 2020).
Consequently, large companies, such as Google and Facebook, are using AI (Editorial KPN, 2020). Facebook is now collaborating with academic researchers and other experts to use AI tools for COVID-related initiatives to keep people informed about the COVID pandemic. The main goal is keeping people safe by keeping them informed, AI is thus an important tool to support public health experts (Facebook, 2021).
For instance, a COVID-19 forecasting model has already been created. This model can be used by governments, researchers, and aid providers to help communities. Aid workers and health care providers can now better determine how they will use and allocate their resources. The model has also been expanded by including vaccinations.
To use the model accurately, it takes into account the demographic properties. Work on the model continues to keep COVID’s prediction techniques as precise as possible. Since the data is very fast evolving and complex, it remains a challenge to make predictions at the county level. Work is in progress to make special predictions for hospitals and to analyze clinical data as well. Based on what has already been accomplished, the system continues to improve together with AI to combat COVID as best as possible (Facebook, 2021).
Facebook. (2021, 30 June). Using AI to help health experts address the COVID-19 pandemic. Retrieved 4 October https://ai.facebook.com/blog/using-ai-to-help-health-experts-address-the-covid-19-pandemic/
KPN editor. (2020, 5 May). Artificial Intelligence: wat is het, voorbeelden en toepassingen. Retrieved 4 October https://www.kpn.com/zakelijk/blog/artificial-intelligence-definitie-voorbeelden-en-toepassingen.htm
NOS. (2022, 11 Oct). Ziekenhuisopnamens door corona lopen op, waarschuwingsniveau verhoogd. Retrieved 14 October https://nos.nl/artikel/2447945-ziekenhuisopnames-door-corona-lopen-op-waarschuwingsniveau-verhoogd
