MIT working to launch app that uses AI to detect COVID-19 in coughing sound

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Researchers at MIT developed the algorithm for identifying asymptomatic people with COVID-19, with the help of artificial Intelligence.

They say it can differentiate between the forced coughs of asymptomatic people with COVID-19, from those of healthy people.

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In a paper recently published in the IEEE Journal, the MIT reports they developed an "AI speech processing framework" that uses acoustics to pre-screen for COVID-19 from cough recordings. Testing the model from cough recordings collected from over 5,000 individuals, the model accurately identified 98.5% of coughs from people with confirmed COVID-19, and 100% of coughs from asymptomatic people who tested positive for the virus.

With the use of the AI model, researchers say they can produce a "free, non-invasive, real-time, any-time, instantly distributable, large-scale COVID-19 screening tool" that can help contain the spread of the virus.

MIT is working on a free smartphone app that anyone can use to test themselves daily for COVID-19.

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