People attend World Conference on Traditional Medicine 2026 in Beijing, Oct 17, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua]

　　Artificial intelligence is now being widely applied to enhance traditional medicine, making it more accessible, standardized and research-based, according to a report released on Sunday on the sidelines of the 2026 World Conference on Traditional Medicine in Beijing.

　　Centuries-old traditional remedies have typically relied on wisdom passed down through a teacher-disciple tradition, and often lack the scientific rigor and diagnostic standards adopted by modern medicine.

　　Li Haiyan, director of the Institute of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, which led the report, said that AI tools can turn accumulated practices into knowledge and data that can be stored, programmed and validated.

　　She was speaking at the launch of the report examining AI's applications in the global development of traditional medicine. The report was initiated by the Global Alliance for Traditional and Integrative Medicine and was released during the 2026 World Conference on Traditional Medicine, which was held over the weekend.

　　Premier Li Qiang also underlined the need to harness science and technology to accelerate the innovative development of traditional medicine. While addressing the opening ceremony of the conference on Saturday, he said China will promote the digital and intelligent transformation of TCM and encourage and support active participation of Chinese and foreign research institutions and enterprises.

　　The report said that AI-empowered traditional medicine has entered a phase of rapid development, as a number of nations have incorporated the technology into broader health development strategies.