---
title: "Will AI Save Us from Coronavirus?"
description: "Tech companies are deploying AI in their attempts to solve coronavirus. Also, are you familiar with Betteridge's Law of Headlines?"
date: "2020-03-03"
modified: "2020-03-03"
authors:
  - name: "Foster Kamer"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/foster"
url: "https://futurism.com/neoscope/ai-save-us-coronavirus"
categories:
  - "Artificial Intelligence"
  - "Developments"
  - "Health & Medicine"
  - "Medical"
  - "Pathogens"
  - "Viruses"
tags:
  - "ai"
  - "coronavirus"
  - "covid-19"
---

# Will AI Save Us from Coronavirus?

![A New York City woman documented her experience trying to get tested for the COVID-19 coronavirus after showing all the symptoms. Here's what happened.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/ai-save-us-coronavirus.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: CDC/Victor Tangermann\</em\>*

**Betteridge's Law of Headlines** [states](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge%27s_law_of_headlines>) that any headline asked in the form of a question can be answered "no," and thus, is a bullshit proposition.

This, of course, [most certainly applies](<http://betteridgeslaw.com/>) to the above headline.

But given the increasing incidence of stories stacking under the keywords "AI" and "coronavirus" as many of the usual breathless boosters of AI/tech companies currently attempting to (gold) rush their way into a solution (and get in front of a recovering market dip), you may be led to believe otherwise.

For example:

"*Alibaba’s new AI system can detect coronavirus in seconds with 96% accuracy*" \[*[TNW](<https://thenextweb.com/neural/2020/03/02/alibabas-new-ai-system-can-detect-coronavirus-in-seconds-with-96-accuracy/>)*\]

"*From robots to AI drugs, here are six tech startups fighting coronavirus*" \[*[Sifted](<https://sifted.eu/articles/coronavirus-tech-startups-europe/>)*\]

"*AI could be our best hope in fighting the next coronavirus*" \[*[Telegraph](<https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2020/02/22/ai-could-best-hope-fighting-next-coronavirus/>)*\]

"*How Coronavirus-Affected Regions Are Using AI to Combat Outbreak*" \[*[Analytics Insight](<https://www.analyticsinsight.net/coronavirus-affected-regions-using-ai-combat-outbreak/>)*\]

And where it concerns Betteridge's Law:

"*Can Artificial Intelligence Prevent Coronavirus From Spreading?*" \[*[CIO Review](<https://www.cioreview.com/news/can-artificial-intelligence-prevent-coronavirus-from-spreading-nid-31151-cid-31.html>)*\]

"*Coronavirus: Can AI (Artificial Intelligence) Make A Difference?*" \[*[Forbes](<https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomtaulli/2020/02/02/coronavirus-can-ai-artificial-intelligence-make-a-difference/#4bbc0ea85817>)*\]

"*Coronavirus: Can AI Be A Cure?*" \[*[IBT](<https://www.ibtimes.com/coronavirus-can-ai-be-cure-viral-genome-sequencing-may-help-eliminate-deadly-disease-2914674>)*\]

We'll let the *Wall Street Journal*'s recent, sober, fair look at the crossroads between AI and coronavirus bring this point home. In a story titled "[Coronavirus Reveals Limits of AI Health Tools,](<https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-reveals-limits-of-ai-health-tools-11582981201>)" the WSJ's Parmy Olson reports:

*Self-described AI systems that are built on machine learning, which adapt based on new data they receive, **are difficult to tweak for a new virus**, said Hugh Harvey, co-founder of Hardian Ltd., a digital-health-care consulting firm and a former radiologist. Those systems “need accurate training data,” he said. **Any little-before-seen, highly infectious disease for which data is scarce could pose similar challenges for even the more sophisticated of such technologies**.*

Emphasis ours. Also, note the kicker:

*Artificial intelligence has a role to play in health care, said Keith Grimes, Babylon’s clinical innovation director and a practicing medical doctor. “In a situation like this, the tools aren’t ready.”*

AI won't save you. A prepared, well-funded, readily available (and free) health care effort might. Until then, stick to anti-bacterial hand wash, and pin your hopes on governments taking quick action and resisting the urge to touch your own face.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/foster.bsky.social>)