Can artificial intelligence spot COVID-19 just from how you cough?

People with COVID-19 who are asymptomatic can spread the disease without any outward signs that they’re sick. But a newly developed AI, with a keen algorithmic ear, might be able to detect asymptomatic cases from the sounds of people’s coughs, according to a new study.

A group of researchers at MIT recently developed an artificial intelligence model that can detect asymptomatic COVID-19 cases by listening to subtle differences in coughs between healthy people and infected people. The researchers are now testing their AI in clinical trials and have already started the process of seeking approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for it to be used as a screening tool.

The algorithm is based on previous models the team developed to detect conditions such as pneumonia, asthma and even Alzheimer’s disease, a memory-loss condition that can also cause other degradation in the body such as weakened vocal cords and respiratory performance.

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