IBM researchers have developed a technology which uses Artificial Intelligence to catch viruses on the Internet even before they strike.

The company says that researchers at its Thomas J. Watson Research Laboratory will have the technology ready with a year. The code should distribute itself across over the Net and should detect even the most complex viruses as they mutate and spread.

The technology works by recognising patterns in code and notices subtle changes in the behaviour of the code.

Some of the AI technology is also expected to be used in a new Internet search engine also being developed by the company.

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