Key Highlights :
Ant Group debuts AQ, an AI health app with 100+ services and linkage to 5,000+ hospitals and close to 1 million physicians.
The app utilizes Ant's Healthcare Large Model and has domestic healthcare reform and international expansion in its sights.
Key Background :
1. From Fintech to Digital Health
Ant Group's foray into healthcare leverages its digital base established via Alipay. Starting in 2014, Ant rolled out online booking of hospital appointments. Gradually, the firm evolved in areas related to health tech, and the culmination was the Healthcare Large Model—a powerful AI that was trained on actual clinical medical data to provide high-precision reasoning and decision-making.
2. Features of the AQ App
Formally coming out in June 2025, AQ provides a user-focused healthcare experience. It provides AI-driven services such as interpreting medical reports, directing users to the correct specialists, and recommending personalized wellness advice. The application integrates with a large network of hospitals and doctors, serving as an ever-present digital health partner to users.
3. Empowering Medical Institutions
Outside of consumer applications, Ant is expanding its AI model to hospitals and healthcare networks. On-premise deployment with security enables institutions to manage data in its entirety. In provinces such as Zhejiang, AI agents like Angel assist patients in navigating hospitals, while insurance assistant robots like Yibaoer simplify claims and coverage procedures. These AI solutions have already benefited millions of users, increasing the efficiency of patient services.
4. Tackling Healthcare Needs
China's healthcare system is coming under intense pressure from an expiring population. Over 30% of the Chinese population is expected to be over 60 years old by 2035. AQ is a strategic answer to this demographic shift by providing elastic, smart healthcare solutions that alleviate system constraints and maximize care delivery.
5. Strategic Expansion Plans
AQ's global branding, short for "Answer Your Question," is reflective of Ant's global ambitions. Although the existing one is geared toward Chinese users, initial tests among expat residents in China indicate internationalization to come. Multilingual iterations and possible partnerships for exporting AQ overseas are also being tested by Ant.
6. Vision for the Future
Ant's foray into AI healthcare is an extension of its larger mission: using technology to address large-scale societal problems. With the integration of AI, secure infrastructure, and scalable health models, AQ is a visionary solution for managing health. Ant's focus on R&D and responsible AI roll-out makes it a key player in the international digital health ecosystem.