Hackers target health care AI amid coronavirus pandemic

The health care sector has increasingly turned to artificial intelligence to aid in everything from performing surgeries to helping diagnose and predict outcomes of patient illnesses. But as the coronavirus crisis ramps up, and hackers turn their eyes toward the health sector, experts warn these systems and the patients they support are increasingly at risk. "Obviously any disruption or denial of service of any type of medical health technology which interrupts patient care is definitely a significant issue," said John Riggi, the senior adviser for cybersecurity and risk at the American Hospital Association (AHA). "Worst-case scenario, life-saving medical devices may be rendered inoperable." AI systems have gradually been integrated into health care in the United States, often used to help speed diagnoses, such as reading X-rays, and for determining risks to patients.