Artificial intelligence in traditional medicine: evidence, barriers, and a research roadmap for personalized care

Background Traditional medicine (TM) systems such as Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and Thai Traditional Medicine (TTM) are increasingly intersecting with artificial intelligence (AI). Objective To synthesize how AI is currently applied to TM and to outline barriers and research needs for safe, equitable, and scalable adoption. Methods We conducted a targeted narrative mini review of peer reviewed studies (2017–Aug 2025) retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar using terms spanning TM (Ayurveda/TCM/TTM) and AI (machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP), computer vision, telemedicine. Inclusion favored studies with reported methods and, when available, performance metrics; commentary and preprints without data were excluded. Findings Current evidence supports AI assisted diagnostic pattern recognition, personalization frameworks integrating multi source data, digital preserv