Saudi Arabia launches world’s first AI-driven doctor clinic

In a groundbreaking development in the field of healthcare, Saudi Arabia has become home to the world's first clinic where artificial intelligence (AI) independently diagnoses and treats patients.

The innovative project is the result of a collaboration between China-based medical technology firm Synyi AI and Saudi Arabia's Almoosa Health Group.

The pilot clinic began operations last month in the Al-Ahsa region, according to Leaders magazine.

The AI clinic is designed to serve as the first point of contact for patients seeking medical care. At the heart of this setup is an AI "doctor" named Dr Hua, which carries out the diagnostic and treatment processes. However, human doctors remain an integral part of the system, acting as final reviewers and emergency responders.

"AI Clinic is an innovative medical service system where AI doctors independently complete the full-chain medical operations from inquiry to prescription, with human doctors acting as 'safety gatekeepers' to review the diagnosis and treatment results," said Synyi AI in a statement.

Patients begin their consultation by describing their symptoms to Dr Hua using a tablet. Much like a human physician, Dr Hua follows up with additional questions and assesses medical data and images collected by on-site human assistants. After processing the inputs, the AI system generates a treatment plan, which is thoroughly reviewed and approved by a human doctor before being administered.

Currently, the AI system focuses on respiratory illnesses and is capable of diagnosing approximately 30 conditions, including asthma and pharyngitis. Synyi AI plans to broaden the scope to encompass up to 50 illnesses, including those related to the gastrointestinal and dermatological systems.

Diagnostic data from the ongoing trial will be submitted to Saudi authorities, with full regulatory approval expected within 18 months. Synyi AI reported a remarkably low error rate of just 0.3 percent during pre-trial testing.

“What AI has done in the past is to assist doctors, but now we are taking the final step of the journey to let AI diagnose and treat the patients directly,” said Synyi AI CEO Zhang Shaodian.

The AI models used in the clinic are built on localised large language models (LLMs), which have been adapted to accommodate regional medical terminology, native languages, and cultural sensitivities. The project is supported by major investors including Tencent, Hongshan Capital, GGV Capital, and local government bodies.