In China, an advanced artificial intelligence system defeated a team of experienced Chinese doctors in a live medical challenge. The AI diagnosed a complicated gastrointestinal condition in less than two seconds, while the doctors needed nearly 13 minutes to reach the same answer. Chinese state media described the event as a “real-world demonstration” of how fast and accurate medical AI has become, and how it may change healthcare.
The competition was held during the Pujiang Medical AI Conference, where the first Shanghai Medical AI Skills Competition took place. Four chief physicians from leading hospitals in Shanghai participated in the challenge.
Their identities were hidden behind animal masks so that the audience would focus only on their skills and not on who they were. The doctors were separated into two teams and were asked to diagnose the same complex gastrointestinal case that the AI models were given.
The two competing AI systems included China’s new “Gastrointestinal Multimodal AI,” which was developed this year by the Shanghai AI Lab in partnership with local hospitals, and an international AI model used in other countries.
China’s AI system has been trained on about 30,000 real clinical cases, learning how to read endoscopy images, CT scans, and multiple types of medical data. State media said both AI models delivered their diagnosis in under two seconds, shocking many of the people attending the event.
According to ShanghaiEye, a media outlet under the Shanghai Media Group, the Chinese-built AI system produced the same diagnosis and treatment plan as the doctors. The report said, however, that “the foreign AI fell slightly short in diagnostic accuracy.” The human physicians needed about 13 minutes to carefully discuss the details, examine the medical results, and reach the same outcome as the Chinese AI system.
Video clips of the event showed the doctors wearing colorful animal masks as they worked intensely on the medical files, while the AI models finished their tasks almost instantly. This unusual scene quickly became a trending topic in China, with many users discussing how fast AI is developing and what this could mean for medical workers.
Some online comments praised the AI’s speed, while others expressed concern about whether machines may one day replace human doctors.
Luo Meng, the deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, spoke after the competition. His message was clear: the purpose of creating and improving medical AI systems is not to replace doctors, but to support them and make them stronger.
He said, “Through this real-world demonstration, we can see that large models will undoubtedly play a valuable role in training our diagnostic and treatment skills and enhancing our overall capabilities.” He added another important point, saying, “Of course, our goal is not to make AI models stronger for their own sake, but to use these powerful tools to make our doctors stronger.”
A University of Sydney study from June 2024 showed that about one in ten Australians now use ChatGPT or similar platforms to ask questions about health. The study found that many users turn to AI to learn about medical conditions, understand symptoms, and find explanations for difficult medical terms. It also found that more than half of the people surveyed had asked questions that normally require advice from trained clinicians.
Mental-health discussions are also shifting toward AI, especially among younger generations. A recent study reported that about 20 percent of TikTok users have used AI tools for therapy-like conversations.
Clinical psychologist Katie Kjelsaas told NewsWire that many people choose AI because it feels private, fast, easy to use, and free from stigma. She explained that, “We know many people are using them, usually due to barriers such as cost, stigma or access,” and added that the convenience makes people try AI as an alternative to traditional therapy.
Dr. Kjelsaas noted that AI can offer general advice but cannot diagnose, cannot create a personal treatment plan, and cannot replace the careful judgment of a trained professional.
She said, “You do not see a doctor to have them regurgitate information about your symptoms. You see a doctor to have them sort, synthesise and personalise the relevant information about your symptoms to you so they can apply this in a way that supports your healing.”
OpenAI also advises users to be cautious when asking medical questions. The company states that ChatGPT “is not a substitute for professional care and does not provide medical, psychiatric, or crisis intervention advice.” It encourages people to use AI only for general information or supportive conversation, not for diagnosis or treatment.
