Machine Learning and Knowledge Extraction (Jul 2024)

Examining the Global Patent Landscape of Artificial Intelligence-Driven Solutions for COVID-19

  • Fabio Mota,
  • Luiza Amara Maciel Braga,
  • Bernardo Pereira Cabral,
  • Natiele Carla da Silva Ferreira,
  • Cláudio Damasceno Pinto,
  • José Aguiar Coelho,
  • Luiz Anastacio Alves

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/make6030078
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 3
pp. 1619 – 1632

Abstract

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies have been widely applied to tackle Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) challenges, from diagnosis to prevention. Patents are a valuable source for understanding the AI technologies used in the COVID-19 context, allowing the identification of the current technological scenario, fields of application, and research, development, and innovation trends. This study aimed to analyze the global patent landscape of AI applications related to COVID-19. To do so, we analyzed AI-related COVID-19 patent metadata collected in the Derwent Innovations Index using systematic review, bibliometrics, and network analysis., Our results show diagnosis as the most frequent application field, followed by prevention. Deep Learning algorithms, such as Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), were predominantly used for diagnosis, while Machine Learning algorithms, such as Support Vector Machine (SVM), were mainly used for prevention. The most frequent International Patent Classification Codes were related to computing arrangements based on specific computational models, information, and communication technology for detecting, monitoring, or modeling epidemics or pandemics, and methods or arrangements for pattern recognition using electronic means. The most central algorithms of the two-mode network were CNN, SVM, and Random Forest (RF), while the most central application fields were diagnosis, prevention, and forecast. The most significant connection between algorithms and application fields occurred between CNN and diagnosis. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the technological landscape involving AI and COVID-19, and we hope they can inform future research and development’s decision making and planning.

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