Apple has updated its built-in AI assistant, Siri, so that she can carry out a quick screening on you in order to find out whether you have been contaminated with the novel coronavirus or not.
The update appears to have been extremely spread now as iPhone users started to observe the new feature on Saturday, March 21st. In order to get a screening, you need to say, ‘Hey Siri, do I have coronavirus?’ The question will prompt the virtual assistant to begin the quick assessment.
Get ‘Screened’ for Coronavirus by Siri
The assistant will then ask you whether you have a dry cough, fever, or shortness of breath. You have three options: ‘Yes,’ ‘No,’ or ‘Not sure.’ Depending on your response, you might be told that you’re not infected, but you need to stay indoors and asses yourself for the aforementioned symptoms.
Siri will also encourage you to wash your hands for 20 seconds, and avoid close contact with people. It will also tell you that you might not show any symptoms, but you could still be carrying the virus and contaminating others.
If your answers are labeled by Siri as alarming, she will ask whether the symptoms are extreme or life-threatening. In case your answer is ‘Yes,’ the assistant will be calling emergency services for you.
The virtual assistant also provides you with a link to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
The Siri screening was claimed to be available in the United States only, but reports from certain countries in Europe also said that the service is available there as well. As per Apple, the answers that the assistant offers come from the U.S. Public Health Service and the CDC.
It’s an irony now that the same government that has been carrying out investigations on the big technology companies for possible antitrust violations and for expanding too much is now depending on the same companies to help get the world through this crisis.
