Alibaba’s AI Detects Deadly Cancers Before Symptoms Appear

In partnership with

Your competitors are already automating. Here's the data.

Retail and ecommerce teams using AI for customer service are resolving 40-60% more tickets without more staff, cutting cost-per-ticket by 30%+, and handling seasonal spikes 3x faster.

But here's what separates winners from everyone else: they started with the data, not the hype.

Gladly handles the predictable volume, FAQs, routing, returns, order status, while your team focuses on customers who need a human touch. The result? Better experiences. Lower costs. Real competitive advantage. Ready to see what's possible for your business?

See it in action

In a major breakthrough that could redefine the future of cancer diagnosis, an artificial intelligence (AI) system developed with support from Chinese technology giant Alibaba has demonstrated the ability to detect pancreatic cancer before visible symptoms appear. The system, known as PANDA—short for Pancreatic Cancer Detection with Artificial Intelligence—is already being hailed as a life-saving innovation in one of the most challenging areas of modern medicine. A Silent Killer in Focus Pancreatic cancer is widely considered one of the deadliest forms of cancer. Often referred to as a “silent killer,” it rarely shows clear symptoms in its early stages. By the time patients experience noticeable signs such as abdominal pain, jaundice, or unexplained weight loss, the disease is frequently advanced and difficult to treat. According to global cancer studies, the five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer remains alarmingly low. This grim reality has made early detection a top priority for medical researchers worldwide—and PANDA appears to be a powerful step forward. The Technology Behind PANDA PANDA was developed by researchers associated with Alibaba in collaboration with medical institutions in China. Unlike traditional diagnostic tools that rely heavily on contrast-enhanced CT scans—which expose patients to higher levels of radiation—PANDA uses non-contrast CT scans. These scans are safer and more commonly used but are also harder to interpret due to lower image clarity. Using advanced machine-learning algorithms, PANDA was trained on massive datasets of CT images to identify subtle patterns and abnormalities in the pancreas that even experienced radiologists might overlook. The AI does not replace doctors; instead, it acts as an intelligent assistant that flags potential risks for further medical review. Clinical Trial and Real-World Application The system was first deployed in November 2024 at the Affiliated People’s Hospital of Ningbo University in eastern China as part of a clinical trial. Since then, PANDA has analyzed more than 180,000 abdominal and chest CT scans, marking one of the largest real-world implementations of AI in cancer screening to date. The results have been remarkable. The system has identified nearly two dozen cases of pancreatic cancer, with 14 detected at an early stage—a stage at which treatment outcomes are significantly better. Notably, PANDA detected 20 cases of ductal adenocarcinoma, the most common and aggressive form of pancreatic cancer. A Life Saved Before Symptoms Began One of the most striking examples of PANDA’s impact is the case of Qiu Sijun, a 57-year-old patient who visited the hospital for a routine diabetes checkup. Qiu had no obvious signs of pancreatic disease and had not consulted a pancreatic specialist. However, PANDA flagged abnormalities in his scan that warranted further investigation. Doctors later confirmed the presence of a rare neuroendocrine tumor, which was surgically removed in time. Without the AI system’s intervention, the cancer might have gone undetected until it became life-threatening. Doctors Emphasize Life-Saving Potential Dr. Zhu Kelei, the surgeon who performed Qiu’s operation, has strongly endorsed the technology. He revealed that many of the patients identified by PANDA had originally come to the hospital with vague symptoms such as bloating or nausea—complaints that rarely raise immediate red flags for pancreatic cancer. “Several of these scans did not appear particularly concerning at first glance,” Dr. Zhu explained. “It was the AI system that identified the risks. In my professional opinion, PANDA has 100% saved their lives.” AI and the Future of Healthcare The success of PANDA highlights a broader shift in global healthcare toward AI-assisted diagnosis. Chinese technology companies, including Alibaba, are increasingly partnering with hospitals to apply AI to complex medical challenges such as cancer detection, radiology, and predictive diagnostics. Experts believe that systems like PANDA could eventually be used for large-scale population screening, helping doctors detect cancers long before symptoms emerge. This could drastically improve survival rates, reduce treatment costs, and ease the burden on healthcare systems. Ethical and Practical Considerations While the technology shows immense promise, experts caution that AI tools must be carefully regulated and continuously validated. Data privacy, algorithm transparency, and physician oversight remain critical concerns. However, when used responsibly, AI can act as a powerful ally rather than a replacement for human expertise. A New Era in Early Cancer Detection The success of PANDA marks a turning point in the fight against one of the world’s deadliest cancers. By combining cutting-edge AI with routine medical imaging, researchers have demonstrated that early detection—even before symptoms appear—is not only possible but practical. As AI continues to evolve, innovations like PANDA offer hope that diseases once considered nearly untreatable may soon be caught early enough to save countless lives.