Editor's note: The 2021 Boao Forum for Asia will be held from April 18 to 21 in Boao, Hainan Province. Over 150 elite entrepreneurs from various business circles around the world will join government officials and scholars to discuss Asian economic cooperation and other issues. CGTN's Boss Talk series brings you special reports of industry representatives' views on technology, healthcare, manufacturing and recycling business outlook in a post-COVID-19 era.

The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 has exposed shortcomings in the public healthcare system, but at the same time stimulated new solutions powered by AI technology, with which problems can be spotted and solved early.

AI has been fully applied in the entire process of epidemic control and prevention, from intelligent temperature measurement, research and development on drugs and vaccines, to AI diagnosis, data analysis as well as intelligent robots.

Many AI companies, in this regard, are actively contributing their technology and research to the campaign against COVID-19. SenseTime, for example, has engaged in the study of AI-powered solutions and deployed them to various locations by collaborating with hospitals and medical institutions to help control the spread of the coronavirus epidemic across China.

Tian Feng, dean of SenseTime Intelligence Industry Research Institution, told CGTN that AI technology can play a key role in diagnosis and classification of COVID-19, and AI-driven innovations can also combine with other industries to play an important role in addressing various issues.

The following excerpts from the interview have been edited for clarity and brevity.

CGTN: How did AI help to control the epidemic?

Tian: AI-powered solutions can be deployed at building entrances and public spaces including airports, train and subway stations as well as office buildings. The solution enables support staff to identify individuals with fever – an indicating symptom of coronavirus infection – without direct body contact, minimizing the risk of cross-infection.  

CGTN: How will AI develop in the post-epidemic era?

Tian: From a technology development trend, the AI technology is moving fast and it is powering all the industry with infrastructure and capacity building. On the one hand, AI solves the problems that can emerge under the long tail. On the other, AI is going to evolve and upgrade every industry. AI-driven innovation has played an important role in addressing issue across various industries.

CGTN: How will AI promote industry upgrades?

Tian: We worked with many companies from different areas to learn about their real needs, and what they suffer from. It allows us to adopt AI technology in diverse business scenarios. Once you have a scenario, you will dig into how technology can help them to survive and thrive, to offer a comprehensive solution to different industries and areas.

(Video edited by Zeng Hongen)