To explore the current status of the artificial intelligence (AI) developments in medical imaging in China, and to provide data for the development of AI.

In May 2022, the Radiology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and the China Medical Imaging AI Industry-University-Research Innovation Alliance jointly launched a nationwide survey on the application status and development needs of medical imaging AI in China in the form of a questionnaire. This survey was carried out for different groups of people, focusing on the clinical applications of medical imaging AI, enterprise development, and educational needs in colleges and universities, with the descriptive statistical analysis performed.

China′s medical imaging AI has made great progress in clinical applications, in enterprise developments, as well as in the education and teaching areas. In terms of clinical application, 90.8% (5 765/6 347) of the survey respondents had a preliminary understanding of AI. There were 62.1% (3 798/6 119) doctors confirmed the applications medical imaging AI products in their departments. AI products were applied in the whole process of medical imaging examination, especially in assistance of the diagnosis. The application of pulmonary nodules screening accounted for 89.5% (3 401/3 798) of all medical imaging AIs. The main factors restricting the rapid development of medical imaging AI included lack of experts [47.3% (3 002/6 347)], poor data quality [45.7% (2 898/6 347)] and imperfect function of the products [40.4% (2 566/6 347)]; in terms of enterprises, there were 65.4% enterprises with a scale of less than 100 employees (17/26), and 34.6% with a scale of more than 100 employees (9/26). The main group of the customers were the hospitals above the second level, accounting for about 92.3% (24/26); in terms of education, the number and quality of AI courses, practical operations and lectures currently carried out by schools vary between different levels. The AI courses for graduated students accounted for about 22.5% (86/381), which were the largest in number; while the proportion of AI courses for junior college students, undergraduates and regular trainees were less than 15%. More than 60% of the students thought it necessary for schools to establish AI courses. Among all the students, the master′s and doctoral candidates had the greatest demand for additional AI courses [84.8% (323/381)].

The development and popularization of medical imaging AI in China continues to prosper, with opportunities and challenges coexisting. It is necessary to adhere to the orientation of clinical needs, and to realize the coordinated development of clinical application, enterprise development, as well as education and teaching.

Medical imaging; Artificial intelligence; Research report