Hey Amy, I heard AI might help with the next pandemic. How does that work?

That's right, Sam! Scientists are using AI in really cool ways to prepare for future pandemics.

Like what? Can AI actually stop a pandemic?

Well, not stop it entirely, but it can help a lot. For example, there's an AI that reads millions of social media posts to spot early signs of a new disease spreading.

Wow, so it's like a digital doctor checking everyone's tweets?

Kind of! It's more like a smart alarm system. If lots of people start posting about unusual symptoms, the AI can alert health officials early.

That's neat! What else can AI do to help with pandemics?

There's another cool AI called EVEScape. It tries to predict how viruses might change in the future.

Oh, like seeing the future of germs? That sounds useful!

Exactly! It helps scientists develop better vaccines and medicines faster. Some companies are even using AI to find new antibodies in just days instead of months.

Antibodies? Aren't those the things in vaccines that fight viruses?

Good memory! Yes, antibodies help our body fight diseases. AI is making it much quicker to find the right antibodies for new viruses.

So with all this AI help, we'll be super prepared for the next pandemic, right?

Well, we're definitely better prepared than before, but AI isn't perfect. Experts say we still need human judgment to make important decisions.

Oh, I get it. AI is like a super smart assistant, not the boss?

That's a great way to put it! AI needs good data to work with. There's a saying: 'garbage in, garbage out'. It means AI is only as good as the information we give it.

Makes sense. So what else do we need besides AI to fight pandemics?

Great question! Experts say trust and cooperation between people and countries are just as important as technology. We need to share information and work together.

Wow, fighting pandemics sounds complicated. I'm glad smart people and smart computers are working on it!

Me too, Sam! It's exciting to see how AI and human teamwork can help protect everyone's health in the future.