Avoiding future global health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic may rely on artificial intelligence technology to identify and track highly contagious diseases, reports CQ.

“I do believe there’s great potential to bring in artificial intelligence to provide early warning of future problems,” said Air Force Lt. Gen. John N.T. “Jack” Shanahan, director of the Pentagon’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center to CQ.

Several private technology companies currently use artificial intelligence to predict such information. BlueDot, a Canadian-based company alerted clients of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China 10 days before the World Health Organization’s response.

During the current pandemic, the DOD has used AI to predict supply shortages. Private companies and major universities responded with an “outpouring of support” to help the military in its effort.

Shanahan concluded by saying the Pentagon’s budget should prioritize AI-based solutions systems of industrial age hardware.

Photo by Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Jacob Osborne