The relevance of Artificial Intelligence in mitigating socioeconomic impacts of Covid-19 and future epidemics, Dr Santhi Ramanathan, Dr Shirley Gee Hoon Tang, Madihah Mohd Afzal, Dr Pin Jern Ker, Dr Prajindra Sankar Krishnan, Dr Chai Phing Chen, Prof. Tiong Sieh Kiong and Dr Mei Wyin Yaw

Dr Santhi Ramanathan
Multimedia University
Malaysia
Dr Shirley Gee Hoon Tang, Madihah Mohd Afzal
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Malaysia
Dr Pin Jern Ker, Dr Prajindra Sankar Krishnan, Dr Chai Phing Chen, Prof. Tiong Sieh Kiong and Dr Mei Wyin Yaw
Universiti Tenaga Nasional
Malaysia

Abstract: Since the Covid-19 pandemic was declared a worldwide epidemic, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and pandemic have been ideas that are incessantly paired in an extensive range of studies and research efforts. AI emerged long ago as one of the important technology drivers in transforming people’s lives and businesses in many countries around the world. However, the relevance of AI has been exposed substantially during pandemic and post pandemic through numerous publications. The socio-economic impact of recent pandemic on healthcare, employment and education undoubtedly had an impact on other socioeconomic facets of people's daily life. In Malaysia, the pandemic has accelerated the process of strategizing and adopting the AI related applications among people, businesses and the government, for better outcomes. Studies on the application of AI during pandemic have been adequately conducted using literature reviews and content analysis approaches. This study will be one of them, complementing the aspect of the relevance of AI in mitigating the socio-economic impacts of pandemic and future epidemics, along with the core challenges in expediting AI for future states.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Digital, Socio-economic, Covid-19, Pandemic, Malaysia.