UK/US: AI company claims social media analysis predicts virus spikes

The risk detection company Dataminr has created an AI system that analyses social media posts to predict the next hotspots for COVID-19 outbreaks. The company claims it successfully predicted spikes seven to 13 days before they occurred - in the UK, in London, Hertfordshire, Essex, and Kent, and in 14 US states. Rather than measuring aggregated data, the system looks for unique posts from individuals who say they have symptoms, have tested positive, or been exposed, as well as first-hand accounts of confirmed cases from relatives, friends, and co-workers. 

Source: https://thenextweb.com/neural/2020/04/09/ai-predicts-where-coronavirus-cases-will-spike-next/

Writer: Thomas Macaulay

Publication: The Next Web