Researchers used AI to determine if someone had a cold from the tone of their voice

• Researchers used AI to detect whether someone had a cold based on the tone of their voice.
• The findings are intended to diagnose illness over the phone to minimize medical appointments.
• The technology could also make it harder for people to call in sick when they're not ill.

While fears rise about the impact of AI on work, the technology may be able to help stop employees calling in sick when they're actually fine.

Researchers at the Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology in Surat, India analyzed the vocal patterns of 630 German people — 111 of whom had a cold — in an attempt to identify those who really were ill.