Researchers from Australia and Iraq have developed a cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) model that can diagnose diseases with incredible precision – and all just by looking at your tongue!

This AI, combining state-of-the-art tech with traditional Chinese medicine, can correctly determine an ailment by analysing images of tongues, according to colour and texture.

The system was trained on 5 260 images with tongues of varying colours and light conditions, and refined with 60 photos from Iraqi hospitals. Through a webcam, the AI model scanned volunteers’ tongues and delivered real-time analysis. With a 98% accuracy rate, the technology demonstrats great potential as a reliable diagnostic tool.

Senior author Ali Al-Naji and his team from the University of South Australia highlighted that tongue colours correlate with specific diseases – a yellow tongue suggests diabetes, a purple tongue may indicate cancer, and a deep red tongue often signals severe coronavirus.

The AI’s high precision underscores its viability for use in medical facilities, offering a cost-effective, efficient and user-friendly method for disease screening. Future enhancements could involve smartphone app integration, enabling instant health assessments by simply photographing the tongue.