Researchers at Tsinghua University in China have unveiled a groundbreaking innovation — the world’s first fully AI-powered virtual hospital, where doctors, nurses, and patients all exist in digital form. Built using large language models (LLMs), these virtual healthcare workers can autonomously diagnose illnesses, prescribe treatments, and conduct medical check-ups.
A Digital Medical Workforce
The virtual hospital is staffed by 14 AI doctors and 4 AI nurses, each operating within designated virtual offices. Their responsibilities range from initial consultations to postoperative care — all within a completely simulated environment.
In tests based on the MedQA medical benchmark, the system achieved an impressive 93.06% diagnostic accuracy, outperforming many real-world counterparts. The AI hospital is capable of “treating” up to 10,000 virtual patients within just a few days, a task that would take human doctors nearly two years to accomplish.
Purpose and Applications
According to project lead Liu Yang, the AI hospital has two main goals:
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Enhancing medical education — allowing students to train with lifelike patient interactions without risking real lives.
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Epidemiological simulations — enabling researchers to study the spread and treatment of diseases in a virtual setting.
The system also uses a robust medical knowledge base to provide accessible consultations, making it a potential tool for improving healthcare access, especially in underserved areas.