Saudi Arabia has opened the world’s first clinic where artificial intelligence (AI) is used for diagnosing and treating patients. This innovative facility is a collaboration between the China-based medical technology company Synyi AI and Almoosa Health Group, and it began its trial program last month in the eastern province of Al-Ahsa.

The clinic is designed to replace human doctors as the initial point of contact for patient care, although human professionals still play a crucial role as “safety gatekeepers.” According to Synyi AI, the AI Clinic operates as a comprehensive medical service system, where AI doctors manage the entire process from patient inquiry to prescription, while human doctors review the outcomes of diagnoses and treatments.

Upon arrival at the clinic, patients use a tablet computer to communicate their symptoms to an AI “doctor” known as “Dr Hua.” Like a human doctor, Dr Hua follows up with additional questions and analyzes data and images assisted by human staff. After the consultation, Dr Hua generates a treatment plan, which is then reviewed and signed off by a human doctor. Human medical staff remain on hand for emergencies that the AI may not be equipped to handle.

Currently, Dr Hua is limited to consultations on respiratory illnesses, addressing about 30 diseases, including asthma and pharyngitis. However, Synyi AI plans to expand the AI’s database to include 50 different diseases across respiratory, gastroenterological, and dermatological categories.

The pilot program’s diagnostic data will be submitted to Saudi authorities, with approval anticipated within 18 months. Synyi AI reported a low error rate of 0.3 percent during the testing phase prior to the trial. CEO Zhang Shaodian emphasized that while AI has previously assisted doctors, this initiative represents a significant shift, allowing AI to directly diagnose and treat patients.

The company, which receives backing from Tencent, Hongshan Capital, GGV Capital, and local government entities, utilizes localized large language models (LLMs) for its AI systems, ensuring that the technology is tailored to incorporate region-specific medical terminology, local languages, and cultural contexts.