Improving people’s well-being through technology remains the deputy’s chief focus, as AI has become the core driving force in a new round of industrial revolution
The chairman of iFlytek (002230) (Chinese: 科大讯飞), one of China’s largest AI companies, has emphasized the role AI can play in education and healthcare at this year’s “Two Sessions,” the annual meeting of the nation’s top legislature and political advisory body.
As a deputy to the 13th National People’s Congress, Liu Qingfeng submitted several proposals to highlight how AI technologies can formulate new standards for teaching and learning terminals, promote the management of chronic diseases, and reduce the cost of child-rearing.
In response to China’s “Double Reduction” policy which aims at lightening the academic burden for students, Liu suggested the Ministry of Education cooperate with top companies and put forward standards for new smart terminals.
He also encouraged fiscal authorities, households and schools to allocate funds to accelerate the adoption of new gadgets for teaching and learning purposes.
Concerning healthcare, AI technologies may help resolve problems like chronic diseases management, mutual recognition of hospital examination results, and the shortage of care givers in China’s aging society, Liu noted in his proposal.
He also suggested promoting the application of AI technologies at grassroots levels through replicating the successful practices of Anhui Province, where iFlytek is headquartered.
For instance, in a program under the auspices of the National Health Commission, healthcare operators from different localities can build and make use of a medical imaging platform so as to render the examination results interconnected and accessible to all.
A survey Liu cited showed that 73% of the respondents had undergone repeated examinations at different hospitals, and 70.1% of those surveyed expected physical checkup results to become mutually recognized.
Liu also called for further research on healthcare robots and companion robots to expand the supply of cultural and fitness services for the elderly.
An AI platform can be established to screen youngsters for depression and other psychological diseases with the resultant fee included in pubic medical insurance, he added.
Other than iFlytek, China is also home to AI titans such as SenseTime, Megvii, CloudWalk, Yitu Technology and Hikvision.