Researchers release data sets to train coronavirus chatbots

A preprint paper published by researchers at the University of California, San Deigo; Carnegie Mellon University; and the University of California, Davis proposes AI chatbots that generate responses to patient questions about the coronavirus. The team trained the models underpinning these chatbots on a data set in English and one in Chinese. The data sets contained conversations between doctors and patients talking about the coronavirus, and the researchers claim experiments demonstrate that their approach to meaningful medical dialogues is "promising." As the coronavirus rages on around the world, some hospitals are discouraging unnecessary visits to prevent the risk of cross-infection. Telemedical apps and services have consequently been overwhelmed by an influx of patients.