Chinese AI company plans to mine health data faster than rivals

Jun Wang, founder of digital biotechnology firm iCarbonX, showcases the Meum app that will use reams of health data to provide customized medical advice. One of China's most intriguing biotechnology companies has fleshed out an earlier quixotic promise to use artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize health care. The Shenzhen firm iCarbonX has formed an ambitious alliance with seven technology companies from around the world that specialize in gathering different types of health-care data, said the company's founder, Jun Wang, on 5 January at the Digital Life Summit, which was hosted by iCarbonX. The alliance will use algorithms to analyse reams of genomic, physiological and behavioural data and provide customized health and medical advice directly to consumers through an app. The announcement was a long-anticipated debut for iCarbonX, which Wang founded in October 2015 shortly after he left his leadership position at China's genomics powerhouse, BGI, also in Shenzhen.