Promises and Perils of Artificial Intelligence in Surgery: The Critical Pathways for Successful Healthcare Outcomes

This chapter focuses on the complex interplay between surgeons, data scientists, and patients in the process of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into surgical decision-making and patient care. It discusses the necessity of transparency, interpretability, and ethical considerations in AI development and implementation. Emphasizing collaboration, it also highlights the importance of surgeons’ critical evaluation of AI predictions and data interpretation. Addressing challenges, such as possible biases and patient safety, the chapter advocates for responsible AI integration guided by principles of trustworthiness. Overall, it offers a reflection on the transformative potential of AI in surgery while urging cautious and deliberate adoption to ensure improved healthcare outcomes.