World‍‍`s First AI Doctor Clinic Opens In Saudi Arabia

The world‍‍`s first clinic to use artificial intelligence as the primary means of diagnosing and treating patients has opened in Saudi Arabia. Launched as a trial program by China-based medical tech company Synyi AI in partnership with Almoosa Health Group, the clinic is currently operating in the eastern province of Al-Ahsa. The aim is to replace human doctors as the initial point of contact while still keeping them in the loop as safety reviewers. According to Synyi AI, the AI Clinic is designed to let AI doctors handle the full process—from taking patient inquiries to prescribing treatment—while human doctors act as gatekeepers to verify outcomes and intervene when necessary. Patients begin by describing their symptoms using a tablet connected to the AI system known as "Dr Hua." The AI follows up with relevant questions and processes data and visuals with help from human assistants. At the end of the consultation, Dr Hua provides a treatment plan which must be reviewed and approved by a human physician. For now, the AI system is limited to diagnosing respiratory illnesses, covering around 30 conditions like asthma and pharyngitis. The company plans to expand the system to include 50 diseases, incorporating gastrointestinal and dermatological cases as well. Synyi AI claims the system showed an error rate of only 0.3% during initial testing. The data from this trial will be submitted to Saudi health authorities, with regulatory approval expected within 18 months. CEO Zhang Shaodian said this is the first time AI is being used not just to assist doctors but to directly diagnose and treat patients. The AI models are powered by localized large language models customized for regional medical terminology, languages, and cultural context. The project is backed by Tencent, Hongshan Capital, GGV Capital, and local government support.