Inside China’s First Hospital Operated Entirely by AI Doctors: A New Era of Autonomous Healthcare

China Launches First Hospital Operated Entirely by 42 AI Doctors

China has introduced the world’s first hospital fully managed by artificial intelligence, staffed by 42 AI doctors. This facility, developed by Tsinghua University’s Institute for AI Industry Research (AIR), is named the Agent Hospital. It covers 21 medical departments, delivering autonomous care across the entire patient journey.

A Fully Autonomous Healthcare System

The AI doctors and nurses at the Agent Hospital use large language model (LLM)-powered intelligent agents to communicate and operate independently. They handle all stages of patient care, including pre-hospital procedures, triage, registration, consultation, examination, diagnosis, prescription, rehabilitation, and follow-up.

By analyzing vast amounts of medical literature and learning from ongoing cases, these AI agents continuously improve their diagnostic and treatment skills. The hospital processed over 10,000 virtual patients within a few days—a volume that would typically take human doctors about two years at 100 patients per week.

On a MedQA dataset focused on major respiratory diseases, the AI doctors reached an accuracy rate of 93.06%, demonstrating their high diagnostic precision.

Changing Medical Practice with AI

Liu Yan, the lead researcher at Tsinghua University, describes the Agent Hospital as a major step forward for healthcare. This system could help reduce doctors’ workloads, lower diagnostic errors, and provide consistent treatment.

While promising, the team stresses the importance of adhering to national medical regulations. They are exploring ways for AI and human medical staff to collaborate effectively and are working on expanding the range of diseases the AI can diagnose and treat accurately.

The Future Role of AI in Healthcare

As the AI hospital nears readiness for real-world application, its capabilities continue to be refined. This development points to a future where AI supports human medical professionals, addressing modern healthcare challenges.

AI-driven medical care could become a trusted part of the patient experience, complementing clinical judgment without replacing human insight.

For healthcare professionals interested in AI’s expanding role, exploring specialized AI training can provide valuable skills. Resources such as Complete AI Training's healthcare-focused courses offer practical knowledge on integrating AI tools in medical settings.