Preface: Artificial Intelligence in Surgical Research, Education, and Patient Care

Carrie Y. Peterson, MD, MS, FACS, FASCRS

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping nearly every facet of modern life, and surgery is no exception. What once felt like science fiction (who remembers Rosie from The Jetsons television show?) has become an integral part of how we function, including how we care for patients. In this issue of Clinics in Colorectal Surgery: Artificial Intelligence in Surgical Research, Education, and Patient Care, we explore this transformative technology and what it can mean for the future of colorectal disease management.

AI has already begun to influence surgical practice—many of us use it daily to help with documentation, while our hospitals likely use this to optimize scheduling and to streamline reimbursement. It can also support the design and execution of research, enhance technical training for residents, and expand the reach of trauma and acute care services. Within colorectal surgery specifically, the use of AI is being explored to optimize interpretation of endoscopic imaging, plan operations, predict treatment response, and manage patients with complex diseases. These technologies hold extraordinary promise, but they also require thoughtful application. Surgeons must understand not only what AI can do, but also its limitations, its ethical implications, and its potential to widen gaps in access, bias, or equity.

The authors contributing to this volume bring a wide range of experience and expertise, reflecting the breadth of how AI touches surgical practice. Readers will find discussions on the ethics of AI development and deployment; the ways machine learning can enrich resident education; and the unique applications of AI in trauma and emergency general surgery. Other chapters focus more directly on colorectal practice: highlighting advances in endoscopic detection, intraoperative decision support, prediction of response to neoadjuvant therapy in rectal cancer, and management of colorectal liver metastases. Additional contributions explore how AI may improve communication with patients, personalize learning, and strengthen the decision-making capacity of multidisciplinary teams.

Together, these perspectives offer a timely and accessible introduction to the research on AI's role in surgical care. While this technology continues to evolve at an astonishing pace, its successful integration into practice will depend on informed, engaged, and ethically grounded clinicians. My hope is that this volume gives readers a useful starting point for understanding the current landscape surrounding AI in surgery and the potential challenges and concerns with its use.

AI will not replace the judgment, skill, or compassion that define our profession. But it will—and already does—reshape the tools we use. Every day, it seems more likely the world of The Jetsons, which was set in the year 2062 and featured video chat, smartwatches, and robot humanoid maids like Rosie, may truly become our reality. By approaching how AI impacts patient care thoughtfully, we can ensure that it is used to strengthen our ability to deliver safe, effective, and equitable care for every patient.

Publication History

Article published online:
31 December 2025