Weather Channel app warns of flu season via integration IBM’s Watson

The Weather Channel’s app has been expanded with a function that tries to predict the course of the flu season via AI and machine learning. Flu Insights, as the new feature is called, uses the artificial intelligence technology of IBM’s Watson supercomputer.

With Flu Insights, The Weather Company ventures into a flu forecast for the next fifteen days. After entering a zip code, the user is shown whether there is a high, low or no risk of a flu outbreak in his area. Users also receive notifications from the app during key moments, such as the start of the flu season, confirmed cases of a flu outbreak, or increased risk conditions.

The predictions come from IBM’s Watson and take into account numerous parameters linked to past flu outbreaks. At the time of writing, the new feature is available only to residents of cities and regions in the United States.

The Weather Channel’s revamped app, available to download for iOS and Android, also includes tips for staying healthy during flu season. In addition, if desired, the user has access to the latest flu reports from the American health institute CDC.

In addition to IBM, The Weather Company works for Flu Insights with the American drugstore chain CVS Pharmacy, where customers can go for a free flu vaccine.