AI System Can Detect COVID-19 Fevers While Shopping

Alibaba announced the launching of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system that should help reduce the spreading of the COVID-19 disease.

This mobile, AI system can identify which passersby have a fever.

Once a person is suspected of having a fever, the ‘fever-screening’ AI system will immediately alert others.

The new Alibaba AI system was announced on February 14, 2020, and is based on integrated technologies including thermal imaging for non-contact remote fever detection, with a margin of error within 0.3 degrees Celsius, according to news statement by Yun Tao, an algorithm engineer of Alibaba.

Alibaba is reported to be deploying this AI system at Hema Fresh, Alibaba's fresh food chain.

Hema Fresh launched its first store in January 2016 in Shanghai, China. It is defined as "Alibaba's New Retail" through technology and data in a bid to merge online and offline retail.

Additional digital solutions at Hema Fresh are based on an algorithm in machine learning, a subfield of AI, which identifies patterns in observed data, builds models that explain relevant phenomena and makes predictions.

Alibaba Group says it ‘enables businesses to transform the way they market, sell and operate and improve their efficiencies. We provide the technology infrastructure and marketing reach to help merchants, brands and other businesses to leverage the power of new technology to engage with their users and customers and operate in a more efficient way.’

Besides Alibaba, many other technology firms including Megvii and Baidu, have also developed and put into use their AI fever screening systems, said this China Daily article.

Coronavirus news published by Coronavirus Today.