The coronavirus crisis continues to unite heretofore unaffiliated technology powerhouses at the forefront of AI and other forms of IT innovation in healthcare. The trend continued March 26 with the launch of a multifaceted, far-flung and very well-funded institute.

Two data scientists say they’ve created AI algorithms that can do in a week what biological researchers might otherwise spend years trying to pull off in a laboratory: discover antibody-based treatments that have a fighting chance to beat back COVID-19.

Researchers at the University of Waterloo in Ontario have introduced a convolutional neural network for diagnosing COVID-19 on chest X-rays.

The can-do spirit of techies is shining around the world in some modest but mighty efforts to pitch in against the global coronavirus pandemic.

Some look like people in robot costumes. Some look like microwave ovens on wheels. All helped healthcare workers in Wuhan, China, avoid contracting COVID-19 while caring for hospitalized patients who had the illness.

Numerous healthcare technology companies are jostling to get products leveraging AI in front of healthcare providers on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19.

Amazon Web Services is corralling the expertise of more than 30 research institutions, businesses and startups to help combat COVID-19. The cloud giant has allotted $20 million for the work.  

Mayo Clinic researchers have found that primary care providers welcome the concept of AI-based clinical decision support (CDS) while preferring not to use the technology—at least as configured for their tryout adoption—in day-to-day practice.