Pharmacist Xiao Qiao: The Pharmacy-Focused AI Robot Inspired by IBM Watson Files for IPO

Recently, the “Pharmacist Xiao Qiao” intelligent robot held its launch event, marking the official release of this AI- and big data-powered robot.

Following the press conference, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) held a discussion with Li Peiqiao, founder of “Pharmacist Xiao Qiao” and Chairman of Beijing Yao Shijie Development Co., Ltd., who outlined the blueprint for “Pharmacist Xiao Qiao” from its past and present to its future.

At the press conference, Li Peiqiao mentioned in his speech that artificial intelligence (AI) has extensive applications today. From AlphaGo’s victory over Lee Sedol to IBM Watson in the medical field, AI’s integration into human life has been increasing. In particular, IBM Watson has achieved highly mature applications in healthcare, including assisted diagnosis and treatment, case analysis, and deep learning.

A specific example highlighted by Li Peiqiao is that, in Tokyo, Japan, Watson accurately diagnosed a 60-year-old woman with rare acute myeloid leukemia in just 10 minutes and identified the most appropriate treatment plan. Compared to humans, artificial intelligence (AI) holds advantages in accessing and processing vast amounts of information, deep learning, and autonomous decision-making. Practical applications have demonstrated that AI can help patients seek medical care more effectively and enable healthcare institutions to provide better medical services. Currently, AI applications in the healthcare sector span multiple stages, from auxiliary diagnosis and clinical treatment to post-diagnosis rehabilitation. This raises the question: Can AI be applied in pharmaceutical retail, particularly in pharmacies? This is precisely the issue that “Pharmacist Xiao Qiao” aims to address.

“‘Pharmacist Xiao Qiao’ is a customized intelligent pharmacy robot that integrates voice interaction, symptom analysis, medication recommendations, after-sales service, and autonomous learning,” said Li Peiqiao at the launch event.

Pharmacist Xiao Qiao Launch Event

So, what can this smart robot designed for pharmacies do? First, it offers medication recommendations. A reporter’s on-site experience revealed that patients can select their symptoms via voice commands or through the touchscreen located on the front of the robot. The currently available options basically cover symptoms of common and chronic diseases, providing a relatively comprehensive range from the patient’s perspective. Based on the selected symptoms, the robot then recommends appropriate medications, allowing users to print a prescription or scan a code to make payment. The entire medication purchase process takes approximately 3 to 5 minutes, offering an experience nearly indistinguishable from that of manual service.

Therefore, you can understand “Pharmacist Xiao Qiao” as a pharmacy assistance robot that can replace human shopping guides.

“Pharmacist Xiao Qiao” is able to recommend medications based on symptom descriptions, thanks not only to its vast repository of medical records and pharmaceutical data but, more importantly, to a core algorithmic system independently developed by a dual-expert team comprising professional pharmacists and computer scientists. This system eliminates data blind spots, thereby enhancing user services. It is reported that the team has applied for patent protection for the core algorithm, as well as for circuit design, functional design, and appearance design.

Pharmacist Xiao Qiao Receives Positive User Reviews

“‘Pharmacist Xiao Qiao’ boasts China’s most comprehensive drug database, enabling it to tailor systems for each pharmacy. Additionally, it houses tens of thousands of common medical records, allowing for intelligent analysis of patient symptoms with a very high diagnostic accuracy rate,” stated Li Peiqiao.

In addition, “Pharmacist Xiao Qiao” can integrate with the “Chi Dui Yao” (Take the Right Medicine) app to provide users with a range of follow-up services, including medication management and health monitoring. The technical teams behind both platforms also share a common heritage. VCBeat has previously reported on the “Chi Dui Yao” app, which has been described as the “Dianping” for pharmaceuticals. After a period of development, it has accumulated substantial resources in terms of user base, drug information, pharmacy services, and patient case records, enabling seamless integration into the service ecosystem of “Pharmacist Xiao Qiao.”