Can AI predict how sick you’ll get from Covid-19? Scientists think so

A creative rendition of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles. (Note: Not to scale.) A team of San Diego scientists is harnessing AI to understand why Covid-19 symptoms can vary dramatically from one person to the next. — NIAID/TNS

SAN DIEGO, California: A team of San Diego scientists is harnessing artificial intelligence to understand why Covid-19 symptoms can vary dramatically from one person to the next – information that could prove useful in the continued fight against the coronavirus and future pandemics.

Researchers pored through publicly available data to see how other viruses alter which genes our cells turn on or off. Using that information, they found a set of genes activated across a wide range of infections, including the novel coronavirus. Those genes predicted whether someone would have a mild or a severe case of Covid-19, and whether they were likely to have a lengthy hospital stay.