Microsoft chatbot supports plasma donation from recovered COVID-19 patients

Microsoft has launched a chatbot to identify patients who have recovered from COVID-19 and would be good candidates to donate plasma for treating the disease, CNBC reports. 

Three things to know:

1. The "plasmabot" asks a series of questions to determine whether users are good candidates to donate plasma. It then directs them to a site where they can safely make a donation.

2. Microsoft collaborated with pharmaceutical companies in this initiative. The FDA has not approved convalescent plasma treatments, but does regulate it, and Microsoft sees the treatment as a worthwhile investment.

3. Microsoft lead researcher Peter Lee said the treatment could save lives, and the company aims to devote computing resources, infrastructure and engineering talent to support it.