As AI transforms healthcare, China and the US find common ground

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.

From healthcare dialogue to AI cooperation China and the United States already have a long history of dialogue and cooperation in healthcare.

More recently, artificial intelligence has become an increasingly visible part of that conversation.

At the 11th China-U.S.

Health Track II Dialogue, held in Hangzhou in June, experts from both countries discussed biomedical innovation, implementation science, AI applications in health systems and cardiovascular disease prevention.

Participants also explored areas for closer cooperation, including the use of digital health and AI to improve chronic disease management.

The significance of this discussion reflects a broader shift in healthcare: technology is increasingly being used not only to diagnose and treat disease, but also to help people monitor their health, manage chronic conditions and make better-informed decisions in their daily lives.

Cooperation is already taking shape In November 2025, GE HealthCare and Alibaba's Damo Academy signed a framework agreement.

The companies said they would combine GE HealthCare's expertise in medical imaging with Damo Academy's AI capabilities to develop integrated solutions for more efficient and precise diagnosis.