Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving a paradigm shift in conventional medicine by integrating ancient healing traditions with 21st-century technologies. Through this merger, healthcare will become safer, more personalized, effective, and accessible for the billions who rely on traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM).
At the recent AI for Good Global Summit, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) jointly published a technical brief titled “Mapping the Application of Artificial Intelligence to Traditional Medicine.” Published as part of the Global Initiative on AI in Health, the report provides a strategic roadmap for the responsible and inclusive integration of AI into TCIM, ensuring that cultural heritage and data sovereignty are not compromised.
TCIM is practiced in over 170 countries and is gaining popularity due to the growing global interest in holistic approaches to prevention, wellness, and rehabilitation. The brief provides examples of the use of AI that is already transforming the traditional medicine sector in the form of case studies. For instance, Ayurgenomics is applying AI-related diagnostics to personalize care, while machine learning models are aiding in the identification of medicinal plants in Ghana and South Africa.
In the Republic of Korea, researchers are investigating the use of traditional medicine compounds combined with AI in the treatment of blood disorders. These developments are transforming the way traditional knowledge can be meaningfully integrated into modern scientific frameworks. Seizo Onoe, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, stated that the Global Initiative on AI for Health aims to ensure that all countries can benefit from AI-based healthcare solutions that are safer, more effective, ethical, and financially accessible, drawing upon the combined expertise of the ITU, WHO, and WIPO.
The brief states the importance of diverse, high-quality data and participatory design to make sure that AI reflects the richness and complexity of traditional medicine systems. Some of these approaches include the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library of India and the Virtual Health Library of the Americas, which provide platforms for AI to engage with Indigenous knowledge systems. These tools not only help preserve Indigenous wisdom but also support international collaboration and protect against biopiracy, the unauthorized use of biological and traditional knowledge.
Edward Kwakwa of WIPO emphasized that intellectual property is key to integrating AI with traditional medicine, highlighting a new treaty that supports Indigenous and local communities in safeguarding their knowledge. The brief further calls attention to the principles of Indigenous Data Sovereignty and applying free, prior, and informed consent in AI development. Examples from Canada, New Zealand, and Australia demonstrate Indigenous-led approaches to data governance. WHO’s Dr. Yukiko Nakatani warned against the exploitative use of AI and called for genuine partnership with Indigenous communities in shaping its applications.
As the TCIM market is projected to reach US$600 billion by 2025, employing AI may play a decisive role in determining its influence, extent, and magnitude. Nevertheless, gaps still exist regarding knowledge and regulation, as well as infrastructure. To address these, the brief recommends the development of culturally adequate AI ecosystems, encouraging legal structures, knowledge development and dissemination, enhanced digital social and health literacy, ethical norms for data usage, and the promotion of global standards.
Key focus areas include the protection of traditional knowledge through digital tools and the equitable sharing of benefits. Technology will enhance all these contributions, and in the case of global standards, it can strengthen existing healthcare approaches, improve accessibility, and ultimately expand the frontiers of medicine to become more inclusive, equitable, and future-focused.
References: World Health Organization. WHO, ITU, and WIPO showcase a new report on AI use in traditional medicine. Published 11 July 2025, Accessed 14 July 2025, WHO, ITU, WIPO showcase a new report on AI use in traditional medicine
