Diagnosing cancer - one of the deadliest diseases known to man - is not an exact science. But in China, doctors are getting some help from artificial intelligence. It's part of a push to give AI a bigger role in the healthcare system. CGTN's Frances Kuo explains.

Marking a milestone. Inside this hospital in Shenzhen in southern China, Doctors here -- getting a hand from artificial intelligence. The new system is helping diagnose one of the deadliest of all cancers -- esophageal cancer. Doctors first take images of the patient's esophagus. Then the AI system does its part.

DR. CHENG CHUNSHENG SHENZHEN NO. 6 PEOPLE'S HOSPITAL "For example, we have 50 images, the AI system will sort them and select pictures showing a high possibility of cancer. We only need to check five selected images for a diagnosis."

The images are compared to those in a database containing diagnostic information from hospitals across the country.

ZHOU XUAN, SENIOR PRODUCT DIRECTOR INTERNET PLUS PARTNERSHIP, TENCENT "The AI is able to learn from numerous amounts of data. That's what humans can't do."

Shenzen is one of the first hospitals trying out this system for clinical testing.

LUO XUDONG, PRESIDENT SHENZHEN NO. 6 PEOPLE'S HOSPITAL "Now the accuracy of early detection of esophageal cancer has reached 90%, roughly the same level of diagnosis made by human doctors."

The system began trial use in other Chinese hospitals in June 2017. Since the launch, it's served 400-thousand patients. The system was developed by Chinese internet giant, Tencent. It joins Alibaba as well as smaller start-ups in developing AI technology in healthcare. It's a booming industry -- The international data corporation predicts China's market for AI healthcare services will reach 930-million dollars in 2022. It's all part of China's plan to build a national platform for AI diagnostic medical imaging.

The goals are to improve accuracy and efficiency in China's healthcare system, particularly as China struggles with a doctor shortage. As for the a-i system in Shenzhen and other hospitals like it -- the hope is that it can be made available to more remote areas.

And in the future, help speed diagnoses for all of China's deadliest cancers. FRANCES KUO, CGTN.