A hospital in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, has introduced an advanced artificial intelligence clinical assistant to enhance the ability of medical professionals to quickly detect, diagnose, and treat newborns with urgent medical needs. Launched on Wednesday, the AI-powered system, named NeoAI Precision, was developed through a collaboration between Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center and Digital Health China Technologies Co. It is designed to support rapid clinical decision-making during critical moments. Based on the Chinese AI model DeepSeek and enriched with data from multiple neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), NeoAI Precision can swiftly evaluate an infant’s condition, issue real-time alerts, and recommend timely treatments.
“Infant conditions are often atypical and require substantial data for quick diagnosis,” said Zhou Wenhao, president of the medical center.
Around 5.6% of newborns are born with defects, many not immediately visible. NeoAI Precision enables early detection by integrating results from genetic screenings, lab work, imaging, and other medical data. It also helps identify rare and complex conditions by leveraging insights from multiple medical disciplines.
Premature infants, especially those weighing under 1 kilogram, are among the most vulnerable and typically require NICU care for one to two months. The unpredictable and fast-changing nature of such cases makes rapid decision-making crucial. According to Zhou, fragmented information, varied disease presentations, and inconsistent diagnostic methods add to the challenges.
Zhou also noted obstacles such as the integration of new technologies, disparities in healthcare access, and low accuracy in detecting inherited metabolic disorders.
"About 5 percent of infants with serious diseases are treated in NICUs, where they are monitored with equipment. AI technology helps integrate the indicators so that medical personnel can make judgments in the shortest time possible," Zhou said. "In an NICU, we need a very experienced team. But it takes a few decades of training to make a good doctor."
Accessible on both smartphones and computers, the AI model also provides parents with post-discharge education and care tips. Additionally, it supports the training of healthcare providers in community-level institutions, focusing on premature infant care, risk evaluation, and safe transfer protocols.
Zhou added that NeoAI Precision will continue to improve and is set for extensive testing across 50 to 60 hospitals.
