WHO, ITU, WIPO showcase a new report on AI use in traditional medicine

Artificial intelligence (AI) is ushering in a transformative era for traditional medicine, one where centuries-old healing systems are enhanced by cutting-edge technologies to deliver more safe, personalized, effective, and accessible care.

At the AI for Good Global Summit, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) released a new technical brief, Mapping the application of artificial intelligence in traditional medicine. Launched under the Global Initiative on AI for Health, this brief offers a roadmap harnessing this potential responsibly while safeguarding cultural heritage and data sovereignty.

A new era for traditional medicine

Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) is practiced in 170 countries and is used by billions of people. The TCIM practices are increasingly popular globally, driven by a growing interest in holistic health approaches that emphasize prevention, health promotion and rehabilitation.

The new brief showcases experiences in many countries using AI to unlock new frontiers in personalized care, drug discovery, and biodiversity conservation. It includes examples such as how AI-powered diagnostics are being used in Ayurgenomics; machine learning models identifying medicinal plants in countries including Ghana and South Africa; and the use of AI to analyze traditional medicine compounds to treat blood disorders in the Republic of Korea.

“Our Global Initiative on AI for Health aims to help all countries benefit from AI solutions and ensure that they are safe, effective, and ethical,” said Seizo Onoe, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau. “This partnership of ITU, WHO and WIPO brings together the essential expertise.”

Data-driven innovation with ethical roots

The brief emphasizes the importance of good-quality, inclusive data and participatory design to ensure AI systems reflect the diversity and complexity of traditional medicine. AI applications can support strengthening the evidence and research base for TCIM, for example through the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library in India and the Virtual Health Library in the Americas, which use AI to preserve Indigenous knowledge, promote collaboration and prevent biopiracy. Biopiracy is a term for unauthorized extraction of biological resources and/or associated traditional knowledge from developing countries or the patenting of spurious inventions based on such knowledge or resources without compensation.

“Intellectual property is an important tool to accelerate the integration of AI into traditional medicine,” said WIPO Assistant Director- General, Edward Kwakwa. “Our work at WIPO, including the recently adopted WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge, supports stakeholders manage IP to deliver on policy priorities including for Indigenous Peoples as well as local communities.”

Guarding data sovereignty, empowering communities

The new document calls for urgent action to uphold Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDSov) and ensure that AI development is guided by free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) principles. It showcases community-led data governance models from Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, and urges governments to adopt legislation that empowers Indigenous Peoples to control and benefit from their data.

“AI must not become a new frontier for exploitation,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Systems. “We must ensure that Indigenous Peoples and local communities are not only protected but are active partners in shaping the future of AI in traditional medicine.”

A global call to action

With the global TCIM market projected to reach nearly US$600 billion in 2025, the application of AI could further accelerate the growth and impact of TCIM and holistic health care. Current utilization and potential of AI highlight many opportunities, but there are many areas of knowledge gaps and risks.

There is a need to develop holistic frameworks tailored to TCIM in areas such as regulation, knowledge sharing, capacity building, data governance and the promotion of equity, to ensure the safe, ethical and evidence-based integration of frontier technologies such as AI into the TCIM landscape.

The new technical brief calls on all stakeholders to:

• Invest in inclusive AI ecosystems that respect cultural diversity and IDSov;
• Develop national policies and legal frameworks that explicitly address AI in traditional medicine;
• Build capacity and digital literacy among traditional medicine practitioners and communities;
• Establish global standards for data quality, interoperability, and ethical AI use; and
• Safeguard traditional knowledge through AI-powered digital repositories and benefit-sharing models.

By aligning the power of AI with the wisdom of traditional medicine, a new paradigm of care can emerge; one that honors the past, empowers the present, and shapes a healthier, more equitable future for all.

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In this exploration of Grok 4, World of AI uncover the features that set it apart, from its postgraduate-level reasoning abilities to its enterprise-grade security and real-time data search capabilities. You’ll discover how its multimodal design positions it as a versatile tool for industries like healthcare, finance, and research, while its unique training methodology ensures adaptability and precision. But we won’t stop there—this deep dive will also examine its limitations, pricing structure, and the ambitious updates on the horizon, such as coding enhancements and video generation models. Whether you’re an enterprise leader seeking innovative solutions or a curious mind exploring the frontier of AGI, Grok 4 offers a fascinating glimpse into the evolving landscape of intelligent systems.

Grok 4 AGI Breakthrough

What Sets Grok 4 Apart

Grok 4’s performance is unparalleled across a variety of disciplines. It demonstrates postgraduate-level intelligence in reasoning, mathematics, and science, excelling in rigorous benchmarks such as ARC AGI2 and HLE. These evaluations underscore its ability to outperform competitors by significant margins, showcasing its advanced problem-solving and analytical capabilities.

One of the most notable features of Grok 4 is its ability to process a 256k token context window, which is double the capacity of its predecessor, Grok 3. This expanded context window allows it to manage complex tasks with greater depth and efficiency, making it an indispensable tool for addressing intricate challenges. By using this capability, Grok 4 is particularly adept at handling large-scale data analysis, long-form content generation, and multifaceted problem-solving scenarios.

Multimodal Capabilities and Practical Applications

Grok 4’s multimodal capabilities enable it to process text, code, and image inputs, making it a highly versatile tool. This flexibility allows it to adapt seamlessly to a wide range of applications, from advanced problem-solving to dynamic workflows. Its design supports real-world reasoning and planning, which is particularly valuable for industries requiring precision, adaptability, and contextual understanding.

In practical terms, Grok 4 is well-suited for applications in industries such as:

• Healthcare: Assisting in medical research, diagnostics, and patient data analysis.
• Finance: Enhancing risk assessment, fraud detection, and financial modeling.
• Research and Development: Accelerating innovation through data analysis and hypothesis testing.

These capabilities make Grok 4 an essential tool for organizations aiming to streamline operations and improve decision-making processes.

Deep Dive into Grok 4

Here is a selection of other guides from our extensive library of content you may find of interest on Grok.

Innovative Training Methodology

Grok 4 employs a unique training methodology that combines reinforcement learning with pre-training. This dual approach enhances its ability to adapt to new tasks and environments while maintaining a robust foundational knowledge base. By integrating these techniques, Grok 4 achieves a level of contextual understanding and reasoning that distinguishes it from other models.

The reinforcement learning component allows Grok 4 to refine its decision-making processes through iterative feedback, while pre-training ensures a comprehensive grasp of diverse subjects. This combination not only improves its performance in specific tasks but also enhances its general adaptability, making it a reliable choice for both specialized and broad-spectrum applications.

Key Technical Features

Grok 4 introduces several advanced features designed to meet the needs of both enterprise and individual users. These include:

• Real-time data search: Enables dynamic and up-to-date information retrieval, making sure relevance and accuracy.
• Structured outputs and function calling: Assists seamless integration into complex workflows, enhancing operational efficiency.
• Enterprise-grade security: Provides robust data protection and ensures compliance with corporate standards, making it a trusted solution for sensitive applications.

These features make Grok 4 particularly valuable for industries where precision, security, and adaptability are critical. Its ability to integrate into existing systems and workflows further enhances its appeal as a versatile and reliable AI solution.

Pricing and Accessibility

Grok 4 is available through two subscription tiers, catering to different user needs:

• Super Grok: Priced at $300 per year, this tier offers access to Grok 4’s core capabilities.
• Super Grok Heavy: Priced at $3,000 per year, this tier provides enhanced features and higher usage limits for enterprise users.

For API access, the pricing structure is $3 per 1 million input tokens and $15 per 1 million output tokens. While these costs reflect the model’s advanced capabilities, they may pose a barrier for smaller organizations or individual users with limited budgets. However, for enterprises and professionals requiring innovative AI solutions, the investment is likely to yield significant returns in terms of efficiency and innovation.

Limitations and Future Developments

Despite its impressive capabilities, Grok 4 has certain limitations. It underperforms in areas such as coding and UI mockups, where some competitors currently excel. XAI has acknowledged these gaps and announced plans to address them in future updates. Upcoming developments include:

• A dedicated coding model to enhance programming-related tasks.
• A multimodal agent designed for more complex interactions.
• A video generation model, expanding its creative and multimedia capabilities.

These updates, expected to launch in October, aim to broaden Grok 4’s versatility and application scope, making sure it remains at the forefront of AGI innovation.

Benchmark Achievements

Grok 4 has achieved new results in AI benchmarks, nearly doubling the previous best scores on the ARC AGI2 leaderboard. It consistently outperforms leading models like Gemini 2.5 Pro and Claude 4 across various metrics, solidifying its position as a leader in the AGI field. These achievements underscore its advanced reasoning, problem-solving, and analytical capabilities, making it a standout choice for users seeking top-tier AI performance.

Looking Ahead

Grok 4 represents a significant milestone in the evolution of artificial general intelligence. Its advanced reasoning, multimodal capabilities, and enterprise-grade security make it a powerful tool for a wide range of applications. While its high costs and certain functional limitations may deter some users, its innovative features and planned updates position it as a frontrunner in the AI landscape. For enterprises seeking innovative solutions or individuals exploring the possibilities of AGI, Grok 4 offers a compelling glimpse into the future of intelligent systems.

Media Credit: WorldofAI

Filed Under: AI, Top News

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