Digital and Intelligent Health Forum | Francis Gurry：AI offers new opportunities to address structural challenges in global health

Francis Gurry, vice-chair of the World Internet Conference, delivers a speech at the Digital and Intelligent Health Forum, part of the 2026 World Internet Conference Digital Silk Road Development Forum. [Photo/wicinternet.org]

Francis Gurry, vice-chair of World Internet Conference, said that artificial intelligence offers new opportunities to address structural challenges in global health.

He made the remarks on July 22 at the Digital and Intelligent Health Forum, a part of the 2026 World Internet Conference Digital Silk Road Development Forum in Xi'an, Shaanxi province.

In his speech, Gurry shared his insights on building resilient health systems and leveraging digital tools to advance health.

He emphasized that building efficient health systems is a shared global objective as pathogens continue to evolve, posing new public health challenges.

He highlighted the need for robust intellectual property (IP) protection, including patents and trade secrets, to sustain innovation and support commercialization.

At the same time, Gurry acknowledged the global dilemma of balancing IP protection with equitable access to health innovations. He noted that despite extensive international discussions on drug accessibility and technology transfer, the health development gap between developed and developing countries persists.

Highlighting the important role of AI in the health sector, Gurry said that from accelerating protein structure predictions to increasing AI-driven medical device approvals, AI is transforming health systems by shortening R&D cycles and reducing costs. 

He cautioned, however, that the extent to which AI can help reduce global health inequalities remains uncertain, as international regulations continue to lag behind technological advances.

Gurry advocated for open models, biomedical datasets, and biobanks, praising China's initiatives in these areas. He said that open digital infrastructures could play a pivotal role in balancing innovation protection and equitable healthcare access.