Artificial intelligence (AI) has made a significant mark in almost every field. Now, scientists are leveraging AI’s capabilities to deal with pandemics in a more proactive and timely manner.
Unveiling the Pandemic “Early Warning System”
Researchers from the reputed Scripps Research Institute in California have developed a potentially groundbreaking pandemic “early warning system”. They put it to the test with COVID-19 data and discovered it would have detected ‘variants of concern’ before the World Health Organization’s official classification.
The team strongly believes that this AI-driven system could identify potential viral pandemics at their onset, thereby preventing them from turning into global crises.
An Unprecedented Approach
Dr. William Balch, the study’s lead, and a Scripps Research professor, details the distinct method. “We can find pandemic virus evolution rules with this unprecedented machine-learning approach. Both private and public health organizations can benefit,” he shares.
The system uses data from public repositories and new genetic findings, pioneering machine learning. It tracks virus evolutions and forecasts dangerous variants.
Utilizing Machine Learning for Tracking Pandemic Trends
The team’s machine-learning system employs Gaussian process-based spatial covariance to connect three datasets during the pandemic. These include SARS-CoV-2 variant genetic sequences, variant frequency, and global COVID-19 mortality.
The system detected trends showing increased spread rates and decreased mortality. These changes reflect the virus adapting to global responses like lockdowns, masks, vaccinations, natural immunity, and SARS-CoV-2 variant competition.
Addressing the “Variant Dark Matter”
Dr. Balch emphasized observing ‘variant dark matter,’ including many undesignated variants. He stressed the need to consider not only prominent ones but also thousands of others.
This AI system could monitor future pandemics, predicting infection rate changes, and allowing timely countermeasures.
Looking Towards a Bright Future
The team expects their approach to aid virus biology understanding, boost treatment, and vaccine development. Dr. Ben Calverley, a co-author, stated, “This system has various promising future uses.”
In the pandemic preparedness journey, employing advanced AI systems holds vast potential.
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