Alternative titles:

Exclusive | Angelalign CEO Hu Jiezhang: Industry AI Needs to "Broaden Its Horizons"

Exclusive | Angelalign CEO Hu Jiezhang: True AI is about integrating the entire business flow

Exclusive | Angelalign CEO Hu Jiezhang: AI is not a passing fad, but rather the solid foundation of the industry.

Foreword

Angelalign, the leading brand of invisible braces in the Chinese market, has long been regarded as a bellwether for the prosperity of the Chinese invisible orthodontic market. Angelalign's market share has long been a key focus for stakeholders both within and outside the industry, but these are all achievements and past performance.

In the context of the AI ​​era, algorithms, large-scale models, business processes in various sectors, and the product performance of invisible braces will all experience disruptive innovation. Many say that the AI ​​era is the fourth industrial revolution, which will profoundly impact the competitive landscape and pace of development in various industries.In this process, every individual and every company may have an opportunity.

On June 11th, Angelalign announced a major upgrade to iOrtho 11.0. This marks another milestone for Angelalign in its digital innovation efforts.The iOrtho 11.0 system not only serves doctors' comprehensive patient case management, but also expands into a comprehensive cloud service platform that fully empowers doctors throughout the entire lifecycle of diagnosis and treatment.

In fact, Angelalign has been investing in AI technology for a long time. The reason why this upgrade is particularly noteworthy is that related AI applications, represented by Angelalign iOrtho 11.0, are beginning to be more visible and scaled up in dental clinic business scenarios.From product manufacturing to end-user services, AI has given Angelalign new touchpoints and new scenarios, while also bringing new challenges to the company.

So, can AI truly level the playing field for all invisible braces companies? Can Angelalign maintain its competitive edge? Will the support of new technologies help it in the global market? These are all important industry issues at present.

Interestingly, Angelalign CEO Mr. Hu Jiezhang happens to have a background in applied physics, coupled with his years of experience in information technology and overseas markets. In the field of AI + Dental, his inherent advantages have intertwined, both by chance and by necessity. We have invited Mr. Hu Jiezhang to share with us Angelalign's AI progress, competitive strategies, and industry insights. The following is a summary:

Q: What has been the most pressing issue for Angelalign over the past three years?

A: Domestically, we have consistently focused on high-quality growth and continuously expanding our market share, ensuring we maintain a certain distance from our competitors – this is key to our market leadership. Simultaneously, we are also exploring new growth curves, particularly in internationalization, which helps us diversify our business and find new growth opportunities. With the widespread application of AI technology in various industries, strengthening basic medical research and AI technology development has become one of AngelAld's key tasks over the past three years.

Q: Is the integration of AI with orthodontics currently just a "gimmick" or has it already been put into practical use? We've noticed that the initial applications of AI in the dental industry are primarily in doctor-patient communication. Is this because it's more visible? Or is this the current pace of AI industrialization (or the AI-ization of industries)?

A: I think it's because doctor-patient communication is a pressing issue that most dental institutions in the industry need to address right now. In fact, the application of AI technology in orthodontics has moved from theory to practical application and is gradually permeating all aspects of diagnosis and treatment. The significant application of AI technology in doctor-patient communication is likely because this step directly involves dealing with patients, which can immediately improve their experience and build trust. At the same time, because AI technologies in image recognition and data analysis are relatively mature, they can be quickly translated into user-friendly applications, which is also why it is widely used.

Q: So, to what extent has Angelalign's iOrtho 11.0 been "AI-ized"?

A: Our internal product manager joked that iOrtho 11.0 could be called a platform for doctor-patient communication scenarios."Divine Assistance"For example, iOrtho 11.0...Smile simulation functionThis involves using AI algorithms to quickly simulate a patient's smile after corrective treatment; andAI-powered oral health intelligent analysis functionIt provides comprehensive evaluation results from various angles, including facial images, intraoral photos, panoramic radiographs, and lateral cephalometric radiographs, helping doctors to communicate with patients more conveniently. Calling it a "divine assist" is quite apt.

Q: But we've observed that competitors in the industry are all talking about "AI," and it seems like "everyone can use AI" and "everything can be done with AI." What are Angelalign's AI advantages?

A: You're right that "everyone can be AI-enabled" and "everything can be AI-enabled." Actually, the problem lies in...Underlying logicThe difference lies in the timing of Angelalign's announcement of AI, or rather, the different choices made by companies. Angelalign's announcement of AI came relatively late, not because we started late, but because we didn't want to serve our clients with superficial applications or "mirror-like" AI.

The true power of AI lies in a company's underlying AI logic, not fragmented applications. Angelalign has consistently maintained an annual R&D investment of over 10% for many years, and has published numerous internationally authoritative papers in the field of underlying algorithms. These form the foundation for its "invisible orthodontics + AI" approach. Compared to the rapid launch of single AI-enabled products, we value more the systemic pain points that a company's AI capabilities can actually address within the industry. This can also be understood as...AI is a systems engineering project.

Of course, if we must point out an advantage, it should be that Angelalign possesses one of the largest databases of oral health information on Asian populations, giving it a deeper understanding of the domestic healthcare market, doctors, and consumers. The company has also accumulated...Over a million casesBy combining patient data with AI, big data, and deep learning, medical plans and diagnoses can be derived from the data. This deep integration of digitalization and AI can provide solutions that are more in line with the needs of Chinese people.

Q: In terms of the sheer volume of data, Angelalign's oral health database for Chinese people is second to none. So, what are the key developments that have led to the qualitative leap in Angelalign's massive oral health database?

A：AI also needs to "see the world".The "data volume" you just mentioned is crucial. But...Algorithm, computing power, scenarioThese are all "Achilles' heel." I have some personal insights into software technology that I can briefly share: As the amount of data increases, AI models are able to learn...More subtleThe patterns and characteristics of dental data, along with the vast oral database itself, are valuable resources for dental education and research. Through learning from numerous cases, AI can assist doctors in quickly developing treatment plans, reducing decision-making time and improving overall treatment efficiency.Furthermore, large amounts of data can reveal previously unnoticed patterns and connections, providing clues for developing new therapies and technologies. Small datasets certainly cannot produce large models.

Q: The higher the requirements for AI capabilities, the more diverse the data needed. In other words, orthodontics + AI requires more "database." With your background in applied physics or your professional perspective, how can you contribute to multimodal AI in the field of orthodontics?

A：Applied physics is a discipline that studies the fundamental properties of matter and energy and their interactions. It has applications in the field of orthodontics.
The development of open-source AI can indeed provide assistance in many ways. For example...The IRS intelligent root bone system in the iOrtho 11.0 system integrates CBCT and IOS data through a precise algorithm model, providing dentists with a "what you see is what you get" accurate tooth crown-root-bone structure, predicting and warning of potential risks, and reducing various risks such as bone fenestration and cracking during treatment.Of course, not only iOrtho 11.0, but also Angelalign's overall AI business process involves the continuous accumulation and iteration of a comprehensive knowledge base across disciplines.

Q: You just mentioned Angelalign's overall business flow. Are you considering applying AI to scenarios such as supply chain, marketing, or assisting doctors in managing clinics?

A: Angelalign is first and foremost a medical device company, and all our innovations are driven by user value and experience. Therefore, our R&D investment isn't limited to a single product, but extends to the more advanced aspects—that is...We need to address the multiple problems that doctors and clinics encounter in their operations and clinical practice.This can be understood as:Angelalign has always been focused on building an industry AI ecosystem, which forms the foundation and infrastructure for industry AI. Through the iterative development of AI technology across all industries, we can have even more room for imagination regarding the future "AI capabilities."

Q: We know that the integration of AI and oral medicine will lead to a transformation in the industry's talent knowledge structure, or rather, it will change the demand for talent in the industry's talent market. So, what new requirements has Angelalign placed on the team? And how adaptable is the talent pool?

A: We've been integrating internal governance with AI for the past few years, and our team has adapted well to AI. We continuously help employees improve their understanding and application of AI technology through internal training, introducing an AI culture, and providing learning resources and opportunities. A positive learning atmosphere of "embracing AI" has now formed within the company. Of course, in our recent recruitment process, we also focus on candidates' learning abilities and potential to adapt to new technologies, ensuring that new talent can quickly integrate into the company's AI development strategy.Gradually building a talent pool capable of adapting to industry changes and market demands is our top priority and the key to our future.

Q: Angelalign's globalization progress has always been a focus of industry attention. In the process of global deployment, how well has the team adapted to different cultures?

A: I think the team's adaptability to different cultures is currently very good. Angelalign has successfully entered [various sectors including...].Europe and the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, AmericasIn multiple key markets, including [list of markets]. Throughout this process, the company not only focused on product localization and market expansion, but also emphasized the international integration and cultural adaptability of its team. Through establishing localized teams, participating in international exhibitions, and collaborating with global peers, the company has continuously strengthened the global influence of the Angelalign brand and enhanced its international competitiveness.Globalization represents a new growth trajectory for Chinese dental companies and new growth opportunities for their employees.

Q: Do you think that the current progress of AI can be a key factor in measuring the level of digitalization or future potential of a dental company? If so, how would you assess it? How advanced is Angelalign's AI implementation?

A: That's a good point. AI isn't just a passing fad; it's foreseeable that:AI technology is indeed profoundly impacting the development of industries, businesses, and even individuals.Therefore, we actually started investing in AI very early and have invested heavily in it. Thus, the progress of AI implementation can indeed be a key factor in measuring a dental company's level of digitalization and future potential, as it involves the company's capabilities and applications in multiple areas such as technological innovation, data processing, automated processes, and intelligent decision-making.If an assessment is absolutely necessary, it should be the degree of integration between the company's overall business processes and AI, which is also the key to a company's success in the AI ​​era.

Regarding the extent of AI integration at Angelalign, the company has already applied AI technology in multiple business areas, such as intelligent diagnostics, personalized treatment plan design, supply chain optimization, and market strategy formulation. Globally, we continue to seek breakthroughs in AI technology.I think that the visible applications currently seen in the industry are just the tip of the iceberg. Continuously developing and introducing sufficiently stable, safe, and reliable AI applications into the dental industry is something we need to do and must do.

Postscript:

Time is three-dimensional, including the past, present, and future.

But what about the future?The future is not reality; it has not yet arrived. Yet we are planning for this unknown thing, which in itself proves that the human mind has infinite possibilities.

As Mr. Hu said,AI is not a passing fad, but rather the solid foundation of the industry.What we need now is to understand AI, discern AI, and apply AI. Infinite possibilities require infinite creativity, which is why AI + Dentistry is so exciting.

Upholding tradition is a sign of respect for history; investing in the future is a reflection of boundless aspirations. May you also...Always stand with advanced productivity, pursuing the limitless potential of the enterprise, and also the limitless potential of our hearts.

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