Artificial intelligence and the education of future surgeons

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to reshape surgical education by enabling personalized feedback, advanced competency evaluations, and enhancing resident selection processes. Through AI-driven simulations and real-time feedback systems, surgical trainees can engage in adaptive learning environments that promote deliberate practice and accelerated skill acquisition. Moreover, intraoperative AI tools may soon offer decision support, guiding surgeons during complex procedures. However, integrating AI into surgical education and practice comes with significant challenges. These include the need for high-quality datasets, the transition of AI systems from simulated environments to actual surgeries, and the ethical implications of data privacy, algorithmic bias, and surgeon autonomy. Overreliance on AI could de-skill surgeons, while biased algorithms may perpetuate disparities in resident selection and performance evaluations. To address these issues, regulatory frameworks must be developed to ensure responsible AI use, focusing on transparency, validation, and augmentation rather than replacement of human expertise. Surgeons must decide where AI's use is appropriate, questioning whether capability alone justifies adoption. With careful consideration of these challenges, AI has the potential to revolutionize surgical education and foster a new generation of highly skilled and competent surgeons.

Keywords: Artificial intelligence; Machine learning; Simulation; Surgery; Surgical education.