Alibaba launches AI system for fever screening amid coronavirus outbreak

HANGZHOU - China's tech giant Alibaba on Wednesday launched an artificial intelligence (AI) system with functions such as identifying passersby with a fever or without masks, in a move to assist in the novel coronavirus control during the post-holiday travel peak.

The AI system is based on integrated technologies including thermal imaging for non-contact remote fever detection, with a margin of error within 0.3 degrees Celsius.

Once a passenger is suspected of having a fever, the system will automatically alert staff members and quickly locate the passenger, according to Yun Tao, an algorithm engineer of Alibaba.

The AI system will be firstly deployed in some outlets of Hema Fresh, Alibaba's fresh food chain, and will be gradually applied in more public places including hospitals, railway stations and subways.

China's tech boom has spurred a wave of technological innovations to aid the country's anti-virus battle, from rapid test kits for the novel coronavirus to new temperature detectors.

Besides Alibaba, many other technology firms including Megvii and Baidu have also developed and put into use their AI fever screening systems.