Introduction
In today's rapidly advancing technological landscape, the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the medical field is becoming increasingly widespread, bringing unprecedented changes to human health. Recently, Alibaba has reached a strategic cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) to jointly promote the global popularization of AI cancer screening technology. This collaboration will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the global healthcare sector.
Background of Cooperation
On June 1, 2024, the United Nations held the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Switzerland. At this summit, Alibaba and the WHO Digital Health Cooperation Center signed a strategic cooperation agreement aimed at promoting the Damo Academy AI cancer screening technology worldwide. This technology has already provided services to more than 6 million people in China, covering early screening for various types of cancer including pancreatic cancer, esophageal cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, and liver tumors.
Technological Advantages
Alibaba's Damo Academy AI early cancer screening technology has significant advantages. As early as October 2022, the company preliminarily verified the technical feasibility of combining AI with plain CT scans. In November 2023, Alibaba, in collaboration with more than 10 top global research institutions, released the PANDA pancreatic cancer detection model, marking the first proposal to use "plain CT + AI" for large-scale early screening of pancreatic cancer. The relevant research findings have been published in the international medical journal "Nature Medicine."
Global Promotion Plan
This cooperation with WHO will benefit many developing countries and regions with uneven medical resources by providing access to this cutting-edge technology. The WHO Digital Health International Cooperation Center will provide comprehensive support from channels, markets, implementation, technology, and standards to ensure the smooth promotion and application of the technology.
Public Welfare Pilot Implementation
In February 2024, the Damo Academy medical AI technology has been piloted on a public welfare basis at Lishui Central Hospital and Jingning County People's Hospital, providing high-quality cancer screening services to local residents.
Conclusion
The strategic cooperation between Alibaba and WHO not only demonstrates the influence of Chinese technology companies in the global healthcare sector but also sets a new benchmark for the development and popularization of global cancer screening technology. With the continuous advancement and application of AI technology, we have reason to believe that cancer screening will become more accurate and efficient in the future, making a greater contribution to the cause of human health.