Artificial intelligence is moving from the laboratory into hospitals, clinics and people's everyday lives, but turning technological breakthroughs into reliable healthcare services remains challenging.
At the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, discussions on AI-powered healthcare and elderly care drew people's eyes. AI-driven health management platforms, smart nursing robots and other technologies are already being used to ease pressure caused by a shortage of care workers and improve services for older people. Yet industry representatives also pointed to persistent challenges.
As healthcare AI develops rapidly around the world, the gap between what AI can do technically and what can be safely and effectively deployed in healthcare remains a common concern. International cooperation can help bridge that gap by bringing together technological expertise, clinical experience, investment and funding and real-world application scenarios.