Why do small biotech firms adopt AI more quickly than large pharmaceutical companies, according to Tencent Healthcare President Alex Ng?

According to Alex Ng, small biotech firms adopt AI more quickly because they have fewer people and need to do more, which drives them to find more efficient ways of working; in contrast, very large pharmaceutical companies have elaborate organizations and specified workflows, making it sometimes unsuccessful to simply add AI into their existing systems.

What does Alex Ng say about the shift in attitudes toward AI adoption in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry?

Alex Ng states that people have become more positive about embracing AI and what it can accomplish as the technology improves, and he notes that 'the culture and the environment and the discussion has changed so much that I think a lot of people are a lot more positive.'

Small Biotech Firms Quicker to Adopt AI Than Big Ones, Says Tencent Healthcare President

May 28, 2026

Tencent Healthcare President Alex Ng states small biotech firms adopt AI faster than large pharma due to flexibility. Major drugmakers including Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are using AI to slash drug development costs and timelines.

reuters

2026-05-28

Small Biotech Firms Quicker to Adopt AI Than Big Ones, Says Tencent Healthcare President

Small Biotech Firms Quicker to Adopt AI Than Big Ones, Says Tencent Healthcare President

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