Alibaba-backed Ant Group Launches AI-Powered Healthcare App ‘AQ’, Eyes Global Healthtech Play

The app allows users to consult AI avatars modeled on real-life medical specialists and, if needed, fast-track appointments for diagnostic tests or hospital care. According to the company, AQ is now connected to over 5,000 hospitals and nearly 1 million doctors across China.

In a bold move signaling China’s growing ambitions in AI-driven healthcare, Alibaba affiliate Ant Group has launched a new smartphone health app called ‘AQ’ short for Answer Your Question.

The AI-powered platform marks Ant’s most significant foray yet into digital healthcare and is already being positioned for potential overseas expansion.

Designed to transform how consumers access and navigate health services, AQ leverages large language models developed in-house by Ant, Alibaba, and DeepSeek.

The app allows users to consult AI avatars modeled on real-life medical specialists and, if needed, fast-track appointments for diagnostic tests or hospital care. According to the company, AQ is now connected to over 5,000 hospitals and nearly 1 million doctors across China.

“Ant Group hopes that through AQ, it can provide everyone with a trusted healthcare manager, advancing inclusive healthcare and bringing every Chinese citizen one step closer to a healthier life,” said Cyril Han, CEO of Ant Group.

Global Expansion Soon

While the immediate focus remains on the domestic Chinese market, Ant has indicated that AQ’s technology could soon be licensed or adapted for other regions. Zhang Junjie, General Manager of Health-Care Business at Alipay, noted that many foreigners in China have already used a pilot version of the app, and multi-language versions are being planned for future release.

The launch arrives as Chinese companies intensify efforts to integrate AI with healthcare infrastructure, a strategy long pursued by tech giants like Tencent and Ping An Insurance, now joined by global peers including Microsoft and Amazon.

A recent report by the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business highlights how China’s vast national health insurance network and digitalized hospital records covering 95% of its 1.4 billion population have provided fertile ground for AI-enabled healthcare services.

Ant Group’s flagship Alipay app already offers a suite of healthcare functions, from digital appointment bookings to pharmacy services, used by nearly 800 million Chinese consumers. AQ takes this ecosystem a step further, integrating over 100 AI-powered services, including doctor recommendations, medical report analysis, and personalized health advice.

The app is powered by Ant Group’s proprietary Healthcare Large Model, honed over a decade of AI development in medical applications. Notably, this large model has consistently topped HealthBench and MedBench evaluations for its advanced reasoning and multimodal capabilities.

Background

Since early 2025, Ant Group has aggressively expanded its healthcare AI portfolio. It has Integrated its Healthcare Large Model into AI machines for hospitals, enabling on-premises deployment for secure, efficient patient services.

Further, it launched Angel, an AI hospital service agent now active in 1,000+ Chinese medical facilities. Developed Yibaoer, an AI-powered insurance assistant supporting China’s national medical insurance agencies. The tech player also completed the acquisition of Haodf, a leading online medical consultation platform, with which it jointly created an AI Doctor Assistant for clinical use and patient education.

As per reports, Ant Group has partnered with 200 senior doctors to build AI Doctor Agents delivering accessible, authoritative health guidance, especially critical in regions with strained medical resources.

China’s rapidly aging population, projected to surpass 400 million people aged 60+ by 2035 has fueled mounting demand for both public and private healthcare services. Ant Group sees AQ as a digital-first health companion for this growing segment, while offering AI-driven convenience to a younger, tech-native population.

As China’s AI healthtech race accelerates, Ant Group’s AQ rollout places it among the frontrunners, with global ambitions clearly on the horizon.

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