iFlytek boosts use of AI in healthcare sector

The digital-age marriage of business with high-tech is helping improve services in China's healthcare sector. A shining example is the Anhui Provincial Hospital of Central China.

Doctors there are well served by a smart, well-qualified assistant. 'She' records patients' symptoms, reviews computerized tomography scan images and makes initial diagnosis. Only, she is not human but a robot that runs on artificial intelligence.

Developed by iFlytek Co Ltd, a leading Chinese AI company, the robot aced the written test of China's national medical licensing examination - it is a test that aspiring doctors need to pass - in November, thus becoming the first device in the world to achieve the feat. It received 456 marks, 96 more than the minimum required to qualify.