A splash of cold water for those banking on AI to kill the coronavirus
The tech sector is abuzz with high hopes in AI’s potential to help the world beat back COVID-19. A veteran writer who’s been on the high-tech beat for years offers a reality check.
Singling out for particular skepticism AI-aided drug discovery, longtime TechCrunch contributor Devin Coldewey points out that, in the eyes of many, AI is so superhuman it may as well be a branch of magic.
“As has been noted repeatedly before, sometimes ‘better’ processes just get you the wrong answer faster,” he writes.
Coldewey isn’t all out with AI in the pandemic response. Far from it. His piece notes some notable advances. He’s just evidently irritated by some of the overblown expectations it’s been inspiring of late.
“The work on the digital bleeding edge of the biotech industry is indispensable in general, yet, in the face of a looming health crisis, uniquely unsuited for helping mitigate the crisis,” Coldewey adds. “But it must not be expected to, either among the lay public who read only headlines, or among the technotopians who find in such advances more promise than is warranted.”
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Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.