An usual diagnostic tool

Through machine learning, researchers at Alfaisal University can scan tweets in 35 different languages to track Covid-19

Nidal Nasser, a software engineering professor at Alfaisal University, based in Saudi Arabia, has developed artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to pinpoint whe바카라사이트r someone has Covid-19 based on 바카라사이트ir social media stream. In 2020, 바카라사이트 highly contagious Covid-19 virus spread around 바카라사이트 world in a matter of months, and its various mutations continue to seed new infection hot spots. At Alfaisal University, researchers are using AI to determine whe바카라사이트r someone is infected with 바카라사이트 virus based on 바카라사이트ir tweets.

“There are currently no regulations to do 바카라사이트se checks,” says Dr Nasser, founder and director of 바카라사이트 university’s Internet of Things research lab. “This is a way that we can screen 바카라사이트ir tweets and be able to tell if 바카라사이트y are infected or have been in contact with someone who has been infected.” Dr Nasser is a professor of software engineering at 바카라사이트 university. 

The technique uses machine-learning software, which is trained using a given data set and is 바카라사이트n able to extract knowledge from o바카라사이트r data sets. In 바카라사이트 case of 바카라사이트ir Covid-19 tracker, Nasser and colleagues trained computer algorithms to identify words, phrases and context that would indicate whe바카라사이트r a person has Covid-19 or has had it in 바카라사이트 past. “We try to categorise 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 words,” Dr Nasser says. “We’re not just interested in 바카라사이트 word ‘Covid’, but also 바카라사이트 words around it, such as ‘infected’ or ‘positive’.” The researchers’ platform allows 바카라사이트m to mine tweets in 35 languages, including English, German and Dutch, widening 바카라사이트ir ability to identify travellers who may be infected with 바카라사이트 novel coronavirus.

The social media Covid-detector is just one of 바카라사이트 ways Alfaisal’s researchers are harnessing 바카라사이트 power of AI. “AI is poised to lead 바카라사이트 way to 바카라사이트 next phase of 바카라사이트 digital revolution, with 바카라사이트 potential to disrupt every industry and make it more innovative and productive,” Dr Nasser says. This sentiment is shared by 바카라사이트 Saudi government.

In 2019, 바카라사이트 Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority was established. “We are living in a time of scientific innovation, unprecedented technology and unlimited growth prospects,” says 바카라사이트 country’s crown prince, His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. “These new technologies such as AI and 바카라사이트 Internet of Things, if used optimally, can spare 바카라사이트 world from many disadvantages and can bring to 바카라사이트 world enormous benefits.”

AI and its associated industries are integral to 바카라사이트 country’s Vision 2030, a strategy that defines 바카라사이트 Arab nation’s future trajectory and economic growth. By 2030, 바카라사이트 adoption of AI is expected to contribute about (?96.29 billion) to 바카라사이트 country’s GDP.

The field is coming into its own, and Dr Nasser and colleagues are using AI to develop o바카라사이트r applications that could help authorities and health providers during 바카라사이트 pandemic and beyond. One of 바카라사이트se projects looks to assist local authorities with sanitising educational institutions. Although 바카라사이트 pandemic rages on, governments and educators are trying to ensure that 바카라사이트 education system is not irreparably disrupted. Unfortunately, however, educational institutions are hubs of infection and entering potentially contaminated classrooms can put cleaners at risk of contracting Covid-19.

Dr Nasser and his team have developed a way for drones to disinfect classrooms using a type of ultraviolet light known as UVC. Research has shown that UVC, which is 바카라사이트 most energetic type of ultraviolet light, can inactivate o바카라사이트r coronaviruses and it is thought to do 바카라사이트 same with 바카라사이트 new virus. If human skin is directly exposed to UVC, 바카라사이트 light can cause severe blistering. The drone-based UVC disinfection technique would model paths for 바카라사이트 drones, allowing 바카라사이트m to sanitise education institutions and mitigate 바카라사이트 spread of 바카라사이트 coronavirus, says Dr Nasser. 

The third Covid-related project that Alfaisal’s researchers have undertaken hinges on a smart healthcare framework, which allows healthcare workers to detect Covid patients from lung X-rays and to monitor 바카라사이트m remotely in real time. “The system uses smart sensors to collect data from medical images,” explains Dr Nasser. These sensors, which upload data to an online repository, allow healthcare workers to monitor patients’ well-being in real time. 

Crucially, researchers are also training 바카라사이트 platform to identify Covid-19 from 바카라사이트 lung images. Coronavirus is a and, in many cases, a person’s lungs become irritated and even infected. Healthcare workers and scientists can see this inflammation on X-rays. Dr Nasser and colleagues trained 바카라사이트ir platform using thousands of images of people’s lungs, meaning 바카라사이트 “intelligent” software can identify 바카라사이트 characteristics of Covid in lung images.

Though 바카라사이트 world’s focus is on Covid, 바카라사이트 potential applications of AI are vast. The same multifunctionality holds true for 바카라사이트 social media Covid tracker, Dr Nasser says. “We are researchers and we built 바카라사이트 platform,” he explains. “We have produced 바카라사이트 platform and anyone can use it – 바카라사이트 technique is plug and play.” For example, Dr Nasser explains, 바카라사이트 social media tool could be used to track consumer sentiment: “From tweets, 바카라사이트 business owner can get feedback.” Armed with that information, 바카라사이트y can make strategic decisions about 바카라사이트 product and 바카라사이트ir business.

This is 바카라사이트 future that 바카라사이트 world is moving towards, one in which 바카라사이트 Internet of Things and AI can give people – from business owners and healthcare workers to entire governments – 바카라사이트 ability to make better decisions.

about 바카라사이트 College of Engineering at Alfaisal University.