The rise of DeepSeek, a Chinese-developed chatbot, is causing a stir across the country, with its influence extending into diverse areas like healthcare. This surge in AI adoption is heavily supported by the authorities, though its integration into sensitive fields like medicine is met with a mix of reactions.
As China pushes for AI supremacy, people are increasingly finding themselves face-to-face with AI civil servants, educators, newsreaders and even medical assistants. Photo: Shutterstock
The healthcare sector, in particular, has seen growing interest in the DeepSeek model. Some Chinese citizens are turning to AI for medical diagnoses, sparking both interest and apprehension.
The situation has led to a spectrum of reactions, especially concerning the role AI should play in medical decision-making. A viral 12-second video on Douyin highlighted this tension. The video’s caption read, “I am crushed!” accompanied by an image of a doctor at his desk. The doctor’s experience underscores the growing impact of AI: “The patient went on DeepSeek and questioned my treatment. I was so angry and checked the medical guidebook, only to find out that it had been updated,” he admitted, revealing his error.
This incident isn’t unique. China is aggressively pursuing AI dominance, and as a result, citizens are increasingly coming into contact with AI in various forms. This includes AI civil servants, teachers, newsreaders, and medical assistants.
