Chatbots are screening for the new coronavirus — and turning up cases of the flu

SAN FRANCISCO — As the new coronavirus spreads, health tech startups with medical chatbots are scrambling to update their algorithms to screen feverish and coughing Americans and advise whether they should be evaluated for infection with the virus.

So far, these artificial intelligence-powered chatbots are turning up lots of people with the flu. That’s unsurprising at this time of year. It speaks to the small number of coronavirus cases in the U.S. — and how hard it may ultimately be for AI systems to differentiate among the myriad pathogens that cause the same flu-like symptoms that a mild case of the new virus appears to cause.

The apps don’t appear to have been involved in turning up any patients who actually have the 2019-nCoV coronavirus in the U.S. to date — nor is it clear whether any patients flagged by the chatbots have even proceeded to undergo lab testing. One company, 98point6, said it has contacted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about two suspected cases it turned up, but neither of those patients were ultimately isolated or referred to get testing for the new virus.