Alibaba Group has been named to Fortune’s 10th annual Change the World List for its (artificial intelligence) AI-driven tool designed to detect pancreatic cancer. The company placed 8th.
“These companies let their actions speak for themselves — harnessing the creative impulses of capitalism to address social problems and generating revenue while doing so,” said Matt Heimer, executive features editor, Fortune.
Alibaba secured the 8th spot, making it the only Chinese company in the top 10. This recognition highlights Alibaba’s role in using technology to address social challenges while staying profitable.
Developed by Alibaba’s DAMO Academy, the cancer detection tool, called Panda, uses AI to help doctors identify cancerous lesions in the pancreas through CT scans. This method is faster and more affordable than traditional screenings, which often require more specialized and costly equipment.
“Our goal is to leverage AI to cover the entire process of cancer treatment – from early detection to diagnosis with great precision and accessibility,” Le Lu, head of DAMO’s medical AI team, said in a statement. “Our cloud-based solution empowers patients who might not have access to cancer screening due to the scarcity or high costs associated with expert medical care.”
Panda’s ability to detect abnormalities in non-contrast CT scans has proven to be 34.1% more sensitive than human radiologists, according to research published in Nature Medicine. The AI tool also helps detect seven other common cancers, including lung, breast, and liver cancer, from a single scan.
Since its deployment earlier this year in hospitals in Zhejiang province, Panda has shown promising results in early cancer detection, according to Alibaba. DAMO Academy also announced a partnership with the World Health Organization to bring these advancements to developing countries, further expanding the reach of AI-enhanced healthcare solutions.
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