Transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in pandemic preparedness and mitigation: the COVID-19 experience

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the healthcare systems worldwide. However, with the application of artificial intelligence (AI), the emerging challenges are found to be manageable to an extent. This amazing technology has been a beacon of hope, changing how we could overcome this crisis by optimizing resources and speeding up the development of treatments and vaccines. AI played a vital role in contact tracing and monitoring of COVID-19 patients. With its potential to track every infected patient, survey concentrated hotspots of infected regions, and capacity to analyse huge data and decipher patterns, AI could predict future outbreaks. Hence, predictive modelling through advanced machine learning (ML) algorithms could be considered as one of the major measures to curtail the pandemic and its untoward effects. The COVID-19 public health measures and management initiatives were heavily dependent on AI-based big data analytics and real-time data tracking. Additionally, AI has immensely contributed in speeding up drug and vaccine trials and also in interpreting vast amount of trial-related data both on efficacy and safety. In this way, even COVID-19-related therapeutics have been benefitted. Owing to its contagiousness, the healthcare system as a whole was sceptical about direct patient encounters which could further jeopardise the already compromised healthcare capacity. However, with the help of AI-powered telemedicine and remote patient monitoring the access to timely healthcare was effectively improved even in peripheral areas. Like in any new technologies, the use of AI particularly in the field of medical science is quite complex with its inherent ethical and data privacy concerns. Hence, it is a prerequisite to develop robust ethical and data protection provisions for fair and equitable distribution of AI technologies and also to prevent data misuse. The AI tools can greatly support in future pandemic preparedness and setting up effective response strategies. Cutting-edge models for predicting outbreaks, more precise real-time data analytics, and seamless integration of AI into healthcare systems are some of the instances where AI can contribute. Further, policymakers at global level should come forward for cross-boundary collaboration and data sharing for complementing each other in technology-strengthening of pandemic response. In conclusion, the diverse applications of AI in the field of medicine and healthcare came to limelight during the COVID-19 pandemic. And also, the various stakeholders involved, including computer scientists and medical professionals, were exposed to both the possible advantages and also the integral hurdles in the implementation of this AI technology. Hence, it is high-time to take this burgeoning technology further and try to utilize it in the most optimal way for the betterment of the global health system. In the current paper, the varied applications and effectiveness of AI and ML in combating a public health emergency – particularly the COVID-19 pandemic – is being reviewed.

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