SARS-CoV-2: Has artificial intelligence stood the test of time

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) has proven time and time again to be a game-changer innovation in every walk of life, including medicine. Introduced by Dr. Gunn in 1976 to accurately diagnose acute abdominal pain and list potential differentials, AI has since come a long way. In particular, AI has been aiding in radiological diagnoses with good sensitivity and specificity by using machine learning algorithms. With the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, AI has proven to be more than just a tool to facilitate healthcare workers in decision making and limiting physician-patient contact during the pandemic. It has guided governments and key policymakers in formulating and implementing laws, such as lockdowns and travel restrictions, to curb the spread of this viral disease. This has been made possible by the use of social media to map severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 hotspots, laying the basis of the “smart lockdown” strategy that has been adopted globally. However, these benefits might be accompanied with concerns regarding privacy and unconsented surveillance, necessitating authorities to develop sincere and ethical government–public relations.

Machine learning based prediction models for analyzing risk factors in patients with acute abdominal pain: a retrospective study

“…This could be influenced by factors such as sample size, characteristics of the population included, and so on. In addition, it is worth mentioning that AI is not only widely used in the AAP, but also played a crucial role in the 2019 COVID-19 pandemic, helping governments and healthcare workers make timely and accurate judgments, greatly reducing the loss of life and property for people ( 61 ).…”