Google is using its DeepMind artificial intelligence to use to combat the coronavirus or COVID-19. With the coronavirus still spreading slowly but surely and no cure is yet to be seen, is there any hope that this AI might be able to help find the cure?
How the Artificial Intelligence, DeepMind Plans To Help
A post that was published Thursday, DeepMind is now using its AlphaFold system to create "structure predictions of several under-studied proteins associated with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19."
The predictions, however, have not been experimentally verified, but DeepMind is confident that the data will be useful to the scientists who have a better understanding of the novel coronavirus that it will be of use to them.
DeepMind stated that understanding a protein's structure usually takes months or even longer. Of course, previous knowledge of the protein structures is another key, surely. AlphaFold is using cutting edge technology and methods to ascertain "accurate predictions of the protein structure" with no knowledge prior to the strain.
Is Trusting The AI Too Much?
Assistance is helpful for sure, no matter where it comes from in the fight against the coronavirus. However, as stated by DeepMind, that AI has no prior knowledge of the protein and how to look for things that the scientists can use. So many what if's can happen: what if the AI didn't find something worthwhile? Does it even know what to look for? Can it be used realistically and applied in the real world? Questions come to mind, but we have to be optimistic, and thankfully, if there are any findings regardless of how minuscule they may be, it might still be a piece in the puzzle to find the cure, which we will all definitely benefit from.
Future Findings And What To Do With Them
If there are any findings from DeepMind's artificial intelligence, scientists may verify, record, and then, if possible, find the cure or the vaccine to the deadly virus. The key to finding key components to help the production of a cure is a difficult science to be sure, and even with all the scientists crunching their brains 24/7, it will take a gigantic effort.
DeepMind and Their Vision
"Artificial intelligence could be one of humanity's most useful inventions. We research and build safe AI systems that learn how to solve problems and advance scientific discovery for all." so they advertise on their website, which brings us to their advances in all fields. So far, their systems have shown companies how to save energy, identify eye diseases, accelerating science, and, as they are partnered with Google, improves their products to use all over the world.
So DeepMind shows promise, and humanity is counting on their AI to try and solve one of the problems the whole world has to face every day. The cure needs to be found sooner rather than later before the virus mutates again.
