China teenager wins praise for developing app to remind grandpa to take daily medication

SCMP | July 28, 2026, 6 a.m. | Original

Ma Kai's app aims to ensure his grandfather takes his medications on time and avoids expired drugs. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/QQ.com

An 18-year-old boy in Shanghai, who created a simple app using artificial intelligence (AI) to remind his grandfather to take his medication on time, has gained significant attention on social media and received widespread acclaim online.

Ma Kai, a recent secondary school graduate, took the national university entrance exam, known as the gaokao , in June.

His story came to light when he was interviewed by the Shanghai Morning Post as an ordinary young visitor at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) held in mid-July in Shanghai.

During the interview, he showcased his self-developed app, which is designed to remind his grandfather to take his medication punctually.

Ma Kai’s story gained attention during an interview with the Shanghai Morning Post when he attended an AI conference in Shanghai as an ordinary young visitor. Photo: Baidu
Ma Kai’s story gained attention during an interview with the Shanghai Morning Post when he attended an AI conference in Shanghai as an ordinary young visitor. Photo: Baidu

He explained that his app was built using a large language model (LLM) called MiniCPM, developed by the Beijing-based AI company ModelBest.

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