Ant Group has launched new features on its AI healthcare app AQ to fight health misinformation in China, with a focus on protecting seniors.

Officially launched in June 2025, AQ now lets users check the authenticity of medical ads and information by uploading photos, typing text, or using voice calls.

Ant Group has also worked with over 300 physicians to develop AI medical agents within AQ and partnered with online consultation platform Haodf.com to connect users with more than 200,000 doctors for real-time consultations.

The company plans to hold thousands of in-person education sessions nationwide to help seniors avoid medical scams.

A study from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences found that over 40% of elderly people in China have been scammed by fake health products, with 30% misled by medical misinformation.

Ant Group’s efforts are part of a broader push to improve healthcare access and reliability in China.

🔗 Source: Yicai

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Health misinformation spreads significantly faster than accurate medical information

The World Health Organization has documented that misinformation spreads 70% faster than truthful information online, creating a fundamental challenge for public health efforts1.

Research shows health-related misinformation comprises between 0.2% and 28.8% of social media content depending on the platform and health crisis, with Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram serving as primary distribution channels2.

This speed advantage for false information explains why Ant Group’s proactive AI-powered verification system represents a crucial shift in strategy. Rather than waiting to debunk misinformation after it spreads, AQ allows users to verify medical claims in real-time before they can cause harm.

The approach addresses a critical timing gap that has historically favored misinformation, where false health claims can reach massive audiences before accurate corrections can be deployed.

2️⃣ Elderly populations face disproportionate vulnerability to medical misinformation

Ant Group’s focus on seniors reflects a documented global pattern where older adults are particularly susceptible to health misinformation due to lower digital literacy and higher trust in perceived authority figures.

The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences finding that 40% of elderly people in China have fallen victim to fake health product scams mirrors broader research showing that groups with lower health literacy are more vulnerable to medical misinformation3.

Recent Ant Group developments