How China’s AI revolution is transforming autism care

 

Autism care in China is undergoing a quiet revolution—one powered not by more therapists or bigger hospitals but by artificial intelligence. In a country with over 10 million people diagnosed with autism—more than 3 million of them children under 14—there’s an urgent need for innovative solutions. And now, thanks to AI models coming out of Shenzhen, that transformation is already underway.

My podcast recording on this story this week, over on YouTube.

The challenge: A critical gap in autism support

To understand the scale of the issue, consider this: China has only around 100,000 rehabilitation therapists nationwide. Each therapist can typically support just four children per week. That math simply doesn’t add up. Millions of children are left waiting—sometimes for months or years—for the help they need during critical developmental windows.

Enter AI: Bridging the gap

At the heart of this revolution is a cutting-edge rehabilitation center in Shenzhen called Dami & Xiaomi. Partnering with Amazon Web Services, they’ve developed a smart system known as RICE AI. This AI model has been trained on over 80 million behavioral data points collected from thousands of children with autism.

And the results? Nothing short of extraordinary.

Imagine a three-year-old boy struggling to form words. Then one day, during a therapy session, he manages to make the “i” sound—a small but monumental breakthrough. The therapist quickly logs this moment using a tablet, and in under 30 minutes, the AI system generates a full progress report and creates a personalized training plan for the child’s parents. That same task would normally take a therapist three hours to complete manually.

Now, therapists can focus more on interacting with the children—where their expertise is needed most—while AI handles the paperwork.

AI-generated picture books: Tailored therapy tools

Beyond reports, RICE AI is capable of creating customized picture books for home rehabilitation in just minutes. These aren’t just any books—they're designed specifically with autistic learning needs in mind.

For example, children with autism often rely heavily on continuity and pattern recognition. If a family of four is shown leaving the house in one scene, all four must return in the next. Small inconsistencies like that can disrupt the learning process or even cause distress. AI ensures the narratives are logical and emotionally safe.

Real lives, real impact

For the families involved, the results are emotional and deeply human. One mother shared that the first time her son called her “Mama” after weeks of AI-supported therapy, she broke down in tears. That single moment, powered by a blend of empathy and technology, is what this movement is all about: giving families experiences they may have once thought impossible.

The bigger picture: AI expands across China

And this is just the beginning.

Other facilities across China are joining the AI wave. In Beijing, organizations like ALSOLIFE and ING Care are developing their own digital therapeutics. The Chinese Academy of Sciences is piloting an AI model named Starlight, while Alibaba is also contributing with its intelligent system Tongyi.

But back to autism care and perhaps the most exciting development with AI technology... Dami & Xiaomi plans to open-source their technology later this year. That means their data and tools won’t be locked behind proprietary walls—any center, anywhere in the world, could use them. The potential to scale autism care globally has never looked more real.

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The future of therapy?

As AI continues to evolve, one big question looms: Would you ever choose an AI system over a human therapist? Could you trust a machine with such a personal journey?

That’s a topic being explored in the next podcast episode of Sci Com with Mel, but for now, one thing is clear: In China, AI is not replacing therapists. It’s empowering them—freeing up time, improving accuracy, and personalizing care like never before.

Until next time—stay curious, my friends.