At the China International Fair for Trade in Services, visitors gathered in large numbers around the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine booth, captivated by an intelligent humanoid robot standing over a meter tall. Mimicking lifelike, fluid movements, the robot was actively administering a shoulder massage to a mannequin.
According to booth staff member Chang Lucheng, the robotic arm—equipped with a dextrous hand and articulated torso—faithfully replicates core massage techniques. Furthermore, it integrates a specialized massage expert model capable of clinical diagnosis.
The fair showcased an array of pioneering innovations, including an AI-powered dispensing quality control system designed for modern Chinese herbal pharmacies, smart diagnostic glasses modeled on the clinical expertise of renowned TCM masters, and self-service diagnostic terminals. Together, these advancements offer a compelling glimpse into the profound integration of artificial intelligence across TCM pedagogy, clinical practice, and research.
Wang Yaoqi, Secretary of the CPC Committee at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, remarked to journalists: “Artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping the educational paradigm. We must embrace the tide of digital transformation, actively aligning AI with both the heritage and modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine to meet the demands of educational reform. By honoring tradition through innovation, we are establishing a new benchmark in education.”
Meanwhile, the university-led “Passing the Torch of Chinese Medicine” initiative serves as a ubiquitous electronic teaching assistant, ready to address student queries anytime, anywhere.
Liu Tiegang, Director of Academic Affairs at the university, highlighted that this specialized large model amalgamates vast multidisciplinary repositories, including classical Chinese medical literature, core theories, curriculum resources, herbal pharmacopeia, and clinical prescription formulas. Notably, the system was selected as one of the inaugural generative AI educational large-model initiatives recognized by China’s Ministry of Education.
Currently, specialized TCM universities and colleges nationwide are focusing on cultivating hybrid, innovative talents endowed with both profound clinical mastery and advanced digital literacy.
Reflecting this trend, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine has established an AI School of TCM, while Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine has rolled out an undergraduate major in Artificial Intelligence. Similarly, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine has pioneered several deeply integrated courses, such as Intelligent TCM Diagnostics, Identification and Intelligent Compatibility of Chinese Herbal Properties, and Meridian Diagnosis and Treatment Integrating Mind and Body.
Li Zhiyuan, a doctoral candidate at Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, observed: “Artificial intelligence has the unique capacity to distill centuries of empirical clinical practice into structured, systematized knowledge that can be efficiently taught and inherited across generations. Nonetheless, it cannot entirely supplant the core clinical philosophy of TCM—namely, individualized syndrome differentiation and holistic treatment.”
Marking the 70th anniversary of modern higher education in Traditional Chinese Medicine this year, Ji Guang, President of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, emphasized: “Artificial intelligence is offering Traditional Chinese Medicine an entirely new cognitive perspective.”
Source: Cai-Alim-Wang Haiman, China Media Group