China's Ant Group introduces AI health app “AQ”: A AI app for health! The future of medicine is there

Forget Google: Ant Group's "AQ" app aims to answer ALL your health questions

China's secret weapon? How Ant Group's new AI app is changing global healthcare

The Chinese company Ant Group, known as the fintech subsidiary of e-commerce giant Alibaba, is undergoing a strategic realignment that could fundamentally transform global healthcare. With the launch of its innovative AI-powered healthcare app and ambitious expansion plans, the company is positioning itself as a key player in one of the world's fastest-growing technology sectors.

The revolutionary AQ app: A quantum leap in digital healthcare

On June 26, 2025, Ant Group unveiled its groundbreaking AI health app, “AQ,” which stands for “Ask any Question,” fulfilling its promise to answer all health-related questions. This innovative application marks a crucial milestone in the digitalization of healthcare and demonstrates the enormous potential of artificial intelligence for medical care.

The AQ app is based on Ant Group's Healthcare Large Model, a highly sophisticated AI system that combines over a decade of medical expertise. The system boasts advanced medical reasoning capabilities and multimodal interaction options, consistently achieving top rankings in both HealthBench and MedBench assessments. Of particular note is the integration of Ant Group's leading privacy and security technologies, ensuring a safe and trustworthy user experience.

With over 100 AI-powered services, the app offers a comprehensive range of features, from doctor recommendations and medical report analysis to personalized health advice. The application connects users with digital services from more than 5,000 hospitals and nearly one million doctors across China, enabling unprecedented reach and availability of medical services.

The technological innovation of the AQ app is particularly evident in its ability to enable users and patients to communicate with AI avatars of real medical professionals. These digital representations offer faster access to diagnostic appointments or hospital treatments in serious cases, thereby relieving the often overburdened public health systems.

Strategic market positioning and global ambitions

The launch of the AQ app comes at a strategically opportune time, as China faces significant demographic challenges. Projections from the Chinese National Health Commission indicate that by around 2035, over 400 million people, or more than 30 percent of the Chinese population, will be 60 years of age or older. This demographic shift is expected to significantly increase the demand for healthcare services in the country.

At the market launch, Cyril Han, CEO of Ant Group, emphasized the company's far-reaching goals: Ant Group hopes that through AQ, it will provide everyone with a trusted health manager, promote inclusive healthcare, and bring every Chinese citizen one step closer to a healthier life.

Although Ant Group is currently focused on the Chinese market, its global ambitions are unmistakable. Zhang Junjie, managing director of health operations at Alipay, indicated that the app or its underlying technology could potentially be licensed to third parties. Of particular interest is the fact that many expatriates in China have already tested a pilot version of the app, with plans to launch versions in various other languages.

The strategic importance of the English name “AQ” underscores the company's international ambitions. Unlike many other Chinese health apps, which are primarily designed for the domestic market, this name signals a clear focus on global markets.

Jack Ma's triumphant return and strategic realignment

The development of the AQ app and Ant Group's increased focus on healthcare comes against the backdrop of a remarkable rehabilitation of Jack Ma, the founder and visionary behind Alibaba and Ant Group. After years of political tension and forced withdrawal from public life, Ma is currently experiencing an impressive return to the spotlight.

Ma fell from grace in 2020 after publicly criticizing Chinese financial regulators, leading to the last-minute cancellation of Ant Group's planned record-breaking $37 billion IPO. The subsequent regulatory measures forced Ma to largely withdraw from public life and relinquish control of Ant Group.

Ma's political rehabilitation was symbolically underscored by his participation in a high-level meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where he even sat in the front row. This development signals a significant shift in Chinese government policy toward the private sector, particularly in light of the country's economic challenges.

Forbes currently estimates Jack Ma's net worth at $26.2 billion, which is approximately €22 billion. Despite regulatory setbacks, he remains one of the most influential figures in the Chinese technology landscape.

Alibaba's AI offensive and investment strategy

Alongside Ant Group's focus on healthcare, its parent company Alibaba has positioned itself massively in artificial intelligence. The company announced plans to invest at least 380 billion yuan (approximately $53 billion) in cloud computing and AI infrastructure over the next three years. This investment surpasses Alibaba's total AI and cloud spending of the past decade and underscores the company's commitment to long-term technological innovation.

Eddie Wu, CEO of Alibaba, describes AI as a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity, with Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) being the company’s primary long-term goal. Wu emphasized that AI’s ability to replicate human intellectual and physical labor could fundamentally transform global industries and drive significant economic and technological change.

The strategic realignment comes at a critical time, as Alibaba's once dominant position in Chinese e-commerce has been challenged by competitors such as PDD Holdings and ByteDance. Its in-house Qwen line of devices is now considered a leader in China, and Apple selected Alibaba as its partner for AI features on iPhones in China – a clear indication of confidence in the company's technological capabilities.

The booming Chinese AI healthcare market

Ant Group's foray into the healthcare sector is taking place in an exceptionally dynamic market environment. China's AI healthcare market reached a value of approximately $1.59 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $7.33 billion by 2028, representing an annual growth rate of approximately 42.5 percent. Longer-term forecasts project the market to reach $18.88 billion by 2030.

This growth trajectory underscores not only the sheer speed of expansion but also China's unique advantages in scaling AI-driven solutions nationally. These include unified electronic health record systems, permissive regulatory sandboxes, and vast amounts of real-world clinical data.

China is characterized by a remarkable combination of centralized and standardized health data, aggressive national policies such as “Healthy China 2030,” and a healthcare system under pressure from an aging population and persistent urban-rural disparities in care. National health insurance covers over 95 percent of its 1.4 billion inhabitants, with approximately 70 percent of hospitals using digital documentation systems.

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Technological innovation and practical applications

Ant Group's Healthcare Large Model technology enables medical institutions and physicians to deliver more efficient, accessible, and personalized services. In March 2025, Ant Group strengthened its commitment by partnering with IT industry leaders to integrate the Healthcare Large Model into All-in-One Large Model Machines for Healthcare, allowing hospitals to securely deploy AI models on-site.

A practical example of this application is Angel, an AI agent developed in Zhejiang Province that has already served more than 1,000 medical facilities and managed over 50 million user interactions. The company is also supporting the development of Yibaoer, an AI agent for health insurance inquiries.

In January 2025, Ant Group acquired Haodf, expanding its healthcare offerings with the AI ​​Doctor Assistant, which assists with AI-supported diagnosis and patient education. Additionally, approximately 200 physicians are collaborating with Ant Group to develop AI Doctor Agents, which provide health advice to patients, particularly those with limited access to healthcare.

International expansion and global strategy

Ant Group's international ambitions are not limited to healthcare. The company is pursuing a comprehensive global expansion strategy through its international division, Ant International, which generated nearly $3 billion in revenue in 2024. This Singapore-based unit also recorded two consecutive years of adjusted profits.

Alipay+, Ant International's global payments platform, now connects 1.7 billion user accounts across 36 digital wallets. Originally launched to support outgoing Chinese tourists, the platform now serves a broader international audience. For example, GCash users from the Philippines can use their app to pay at merchants in South Korea that display the Alipay+ logo.

The strategic markets for international expansion include Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. Douglas Feagin, Senior Vice President of Ant Group, emphasized: “People from all these regions travel to other regions, so there is a great opportunity for expansion.”.

Particularly noteworthy is the growth in South Korea, one of Alipay+'s most important markets. Transactions at offline merchants in Korea increased by more than 700 percent in the first ten months of 2023. Alipay+ services are now available at over 1.7 million merchants in Korea.

Economic impact and market potential

The financial dimensions of Ant Group's healthcare ambitions are impressive. The company generated nearly three billion dollars in global revenue in 2024. Ant Group as a whole saw a 61 percent increase in profit to 38.3 billion yuan (5.3 billion dollars).

Ant Group's IPO in 2020 was originally intended to be one of the largest of the year, with a valuation of approximately $34 billion (€29 billion). Following regulatory intervention and a share buyback plan in 2023, the valuation was reduced to around $79 billion – significantly below its previous peak of $280 billion.

Alibaba, the parent company, generated revenues of almost €127 billion in 2024, with a market capitalization of over €239 billion. These figures underscore the enormous financial resources available for expansion into new markets such as healthcare.

Global trends in digital healthcare

Ant Group's initiative aligns with a broader global trend of healthcare digitalization. AI-based healthcare applications are gaining traction worldwide, driven by technological advancements and the growing demand for more efficient healthcare solutions.

The integration of AI into healthcare offers unprecedented opportunities to revolutionize healthcare by making it more effective, accessible, and economically sustainable. AI can facilitate efficient resource allocation, reduce costs, and improve the quality of care.

In diagnostics, AI increases accuracy and enables earlier detection, often allowing for more cost-effective and less invasive treatment options. Generative AI systems can automate routine administrative and clinical tasks, create personalized treatment plans, and assist in diagnosis.

China's AI healthcare industry between innovation and regulatory challenges

Despite impressive progress, Ant Group and the entire AI healthcare industry face significant challenges. Data privacy and IT security remain key concerns, especially when processing sensitive health data. Integrating AI systems into existing healthcare infrastructures requires substantial investment and specialized expertise.

Geopolitical tensions between China and other countries, as well as export restrictions on advanced technologies, could hinder global expansion plans. Nevertheless, competitive pressure remains high, as other Chinese tech giants like Tencent and ByteDance are also investing heavily in AI infrastructure.

The regulatory landscape for AI in healthcare is evolving rapidly. China has streamlined its drug approval processes while simultaneously tightening oversight and compliance requirements. This creates both opportunities for faster time-to-market and challenges for adhering to complex regulations.

A paradigm shift in global healthcare

Ant Group's foray into the AI-powered healthcare market with the AQ app represents more than just a product launch – it's a paradigm shift with the potential to fundamentally transform global healthcare. The combination of Jack Ma's strategic vision, Ant Group's technological expertise, and China's enormous market potential creates a unique opportunity to reimagine medical care.

Ant Group's ambitious international expansion plans, backed by substantial financial resources and proven technological solutions, position it as a serious competitor in the global digital health market. The successful integration of AI technologies into practical healthcare applications demonstrates the potential for scalable, efficient, and patient-centered solutions.

While challenges in regulation, data privacy, and geopolitical tensions persist, Ant Group's track record of overcoming complex obstacles demonstrates the company's capacity for adaptation and innovation. The future of digital healthcare will be significantly shaped by such visionary initiatives, which combine technology and human needs in ways that are both transformative and accessible.

With the AQ app, Ant Group has not only created an innovative product but also laid an important foundation for the next generation of global healthcare. The coming years will show whether this vision becomes reality and how it will forever change the way we think about health and medical care.

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