AI integration in UK surgical training is largely at the pilot stage and guided by policy, with robust evidence on outcomes still lacking.
This is according to a new paper, A Systematic Review of Current Use, Evidence Gaps and Future Directions, which analysed AI use in UK surgical training, identified gaps and prioritised future research directions.
The authors now call for collaboration among education bodies, simulation centres, and technology firms to standardise metrics and ensure equitable access.
Artificial intelligence is transforming surgical education across the UK by enabling rapid assessment, adaptable platforms, and immersive virtual- and augmented-reality simulations.
While the global literature on AI in surgery is growing, the UK’s approach is shaped by unique governance, procurement and training frameworks.
Major initiatives, such as the Royal College of Surgeons of England’s Future of Surgery programme, have identified AI and extended reality as key areas for modernisation.
Despite this focus, UK-based peer-reviewed studies remain limited, mostly consisting of pilot projects and initial feasibility reports.
Two independent reviewers examined both peer-reviewed and grey literature, including policy documents from the RCS, to map UK applications of AI in surgical education, simulation and assessment.
The review focused on AI applications in UK surgical training, excluding international studies and clinical AI articles. It examined AI types, outcomes, feasibility, and barriers and conducted a bias assessment.
The current UK literature comprises policy reports and a handful of pilot studies focusing on AI-enhanced VR/AR, performance analytics, and robotic surgery training.
Policy documents from the RCS emphasise AI’s importance for future reform, and initial studies suggest feasibility and acceptability, though evidence of improved outcomes remains scarce.
Most studies are single-centre and exploratory, and they face challenges such as cost, faculty training, data governance and access disparities.
The UK is at an early yet promising stage in the adoption of AI for surgical training. National policy momentum and the growth of robotic surgery programmes present opportunities for coordinated integration.
Robust multicentre evaluation frameworks are essential for properly assessing educational effectiveness, the authors say.
Ethical issues, including data privacy, algorithmic transparency, and the effects of automated feedback on trainees, must also be carefully considered.
Key gaps identified include the need for multicentre validation, curriculum embedding, standardised assessment protocols and equitable access to AI systems.
The authors advise that future UK research should focus on structured validation studies and national coordination to develop effective, scalable and safe AI tools to advance surgical education within the NHS.
