Alibaba’s ’Grape’ AI Outperforms Radiologists in Early Stomach Cancer Detection

Alibaba Group has unveiled Grape, an artificial intelligence tool capable of detecting early-stage stomach cancer with greater accuracy than human radiologists. Developed in partnership with Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, the model analyzes 3D CT scans using DEEP learning, achieving 85.1% sensitivity and 96.8% specificity in clinical trials.

Grape addresses a critical need in East Asia, where gastric cancer remains highly lethal due to frequent late-stage diagnosis. The tool will be deployed in screening programs across Zhejiang and Anhui provinces, building on Damo Academy's track record of medical AI innovations—including an FDA-fast-tracked pancreatic cancer detector.

While the technical milestones are impressive, real-world impact hinges on two factors: seamless integration into hospital workflows and patient willingness to trust algorithmic diagnoses. The initiative reflects China's aggressive push into healthcare AI, though clinical adoption barriers persist.