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Development and Reform Commission Discusses Ant Group's Afu AI Services Deployed in Hospitals Across Provinces

During the NDRC’s May press briefing on May 22, a journalist asked what specific policies the commission would introduce for AI infrastructure and industry applications. Spokesperson Li Chao responded that the NDRC, together with relevant departments, is accelerating AI empowerment across various industries. The national AI application pilot base has already developed “Ant Afu,” a health-focused AI application in the medical field, now deployed in hospitals and clinics across multiple provinces and cities, enabling residents to access intelligent services.
Core AI technologies and application demands are growing rapidly. Li Chao noted that the NDRC has consistently followed systematic planning, sector-specific strategies, open sharing, and safe control to drive deep integration of AI across all industries and socioeconomic sectors, ensuring that everyone benefits from AI advancements. This approach, he said, is a defining characteristic of China’s AI development.
Currently, the NDRC has released “AI+” policy documents covering over ten industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, and energy, while continuously refining the policy framework. Simultaneously, in collaboration with relevant departments, it has established multiple national AI application pilot bases in sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation, steadily improving computing power, data, and scenario resources to accelerate AI empowerment across industries.
Li Chao mentioned that the National AI Application Pilot Base (Healthcare) in Zhejiang has developed the “Ant Afu” application, which offers intelligent services like medical guidance, diagnostic support, and follow-up care from family doctors. It is now used in medical institutions across over ten provinces and cities, bringing smart, high-quality, and convenient services to more residents. He also indicated that the NDRC will focus on building benchmark AI applications tailored to different industries and regions in the future.
As the “Healthy China” initiative advances, public demand for health services continues to rise. Public data shows that within one year of its launch, the health AI app “Ant Afu” surpassed 100 million users, handling over 10 million health-related questions daily. According to available data, 55% of Ant Afu’s users are from third-tier and smaller cities, highlighting the potential of AI to broaden and deepen access to professional healthcare services.
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During the NDRC’s May press briefing on May 22, a journalist asked what specific policies the commission would introduce for AI infrastructure and industry applications. Spokesperson Li Chao responded that the NDRC, together with relevant departments, is accelerating AI empowerment across various industries. The national AI application pilot base has already developed “Ant Afu,” a health-focused AI application in the medical field, now deployed in hospitals and clinics across multiple provinces and cities, enabling residents to access intelligent services.
Core AI technologies and application demands are growing rapidly. Li Chao noted that the NDRC has consistently followed systematic planning, sector-specific strategies, open sharing, and safe control to drive deep integration of AI across all industries and socioeconomic sectors, ensuring that everyone benefits from AI advancements. This approach, he said, is a defining characteristic of China’s AI development.
Currently, the NDRC has released “AI+” policy documents covering over ten industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, and energy, while continuously refining the policy framework. Simultaneously, in collaboration with relevant departments, it has established multiple national AI application pilot bases in sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation, steadily improving computing power, data, and scenario resources to accelerate AI empowerment across industries.
Li Chao mentioned that the National AI Application Pilot Base (Healthcare) in Zhejiang has developed the “Ant Afu” application, which offers intelligent services like medical guidance, diagnostic support, and follow-up care from family doctors. It is now used in medical institutions across over ten provinces and cities, bringing smart, high-quality, and convenient services to more residents. He also indicated that the NDRC will focus on building benchmark AI applications tailored to different industries and regions in the future.
As the “Healthy China” initiative advances, public demand for health services continues to rise. Public data shows that within one year of its launch, the health AI app “Ant Afu” surpassed 100 million users, handling over 10 million health-related questions daily. According to available data, 55% of Ant Afu’s users are from third-tier and smaller cities, highlighting the potential of AI to broaden and deepen access to professional healthcare services.
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