AI INCORPORATED IN FIGHTING COVID-19

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Korean-made COVID-19 test kits are sought after around the globe. But did you know that artificial intelligence played an instrumental part in developing those test kits? AI is applied in various fronts in the battle against COVID-19, from diagnosis and analysis to case prediction.

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​This device analyzes CT or X-ray images to detect pulmonary diseases. The lesions on the lung are highlighted in red, which are then compared to the lungs of confirmed COVID-19 patients to measure the degree of similarity. AI learned from the data of confirmed COVID-19 cases. This method can dramatically shorten the time for diagnosis .and help find critical cases among confirmed patients quickly.

[Soundbite] JEONG GYU-HWAN(EXECUTIVE, MEDICAL IMAGING EQUIPMENT COMPANY) : "This is a solution that helps medical staff determine the effectiveness of treatment depending on patients' condition or treatment method by showing the degree of infection in an easy format."

The developer released the solution for free earlier this month and it is now used in Korea as well as in 30 countries around the globe. Thanks to AI, test kits were also able to achieve both accuracy and speed.

[Soundbite] CHUN JONG-YOON(CEO, REAGENT DEVELOPING FIRM) : "AI has been in use since 5 to 6 years ago. Rather than relying on researchers, we've been using AI for development, believing that AI is the future."

AI is essential in predicting and analyzing COVID-19 cases. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology is carrying out four AI-based studies to predict infected cases or fatality rate. The U.S. government has joined hands with Google and Microsoft to develop a cure and a vaccine.

[Soundbite] PETER LEE (MICROSOFT HEALTHCARE(APR. 22)) : "What's important is that once AI and machine learning is combined, computing power is going to greatly help develop new drugs and vaccines."

As AI plays a more important role in the fight against COVID-19, the next challenge is how to share the research data gathered from all over the globe.