Scientists have developed a novel machine-learning system—a type of artificial intelligence (AI) application —that can track the detailed evolution of epidemic viruses and predict the emergence of viral variants with important new properties. In a paper in Cell Patterns, the scientists demonstrated the system by using data on recorded SARS-CoV-2 variants and COVID-19 mortality rates.

They showed that the system could have predicted the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) ahead of their official designations by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The findings point to the possibility of using such a system in real-time to track future viral pandemics.