Description

This workshop is about AI agents for surgery. It aims to foster a forum for showcasing the latest research on AI agents in surgical vision and interventions, and discussing challenges and risks associated with their development and deployment in real-world clinical practices.

Utilising large AI models as their digital brain, AI agents can process input information, plan and decide, recall and reflect, interact and collaborate, leverage various tools and act. As a result, AI agents exhibit a higher level of autonomy in addressing surgical challenges, operating within an open-ended action space that enables them to tackle a wide array of tasks across diverse data modalities.

Their ability to process and analyse extensive medical videos and longitudinal data, can be particularly beneficial in areas such as surgical vision. Additionally, they can be embodied for controlling medical robots and collaborate as specialised agents for complex diagnosis, intervention, and treatment through collaborative intelligence. AI agents can also write code, lowering technological barriers for clinicians and enabling them to implement their desired AI applications. Current specialist AI models such as lesion segmentation and disease recognition models, and professional software can become tools utilised by AI agents, allowing them to automate the entire clinical pathway.

Programme

The programme will be published in May.

Learning Outcomes

This workshop will serve as a vital platform for researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders to come together and share insights on the transformative power of AI agents. By fostering a collaborative environment, we aim to:

1. Showcase Cutting-Edge Research: Attendees will gain access to the latest findings and innovations in AI agents for surgery, equipping them with knowledge that can enhance their own work. For instance: theories, principles, and structures of AI agents; and applications of AI agents in surgery.

2. Address Challenges Head-On: Through open discussions, we will explore the potential risks associated with agent implementation in surgery, including bias in algorithms and the importance of transparency in AI agent’s reasoning and decision-making.

3. Promote Collaboration: The workshop will encourage networking and partnerships among participants, paving the way for interdisciplinary collaborations that can drive future research and development in surgical AI agents.

4. Inspire Policy and Practice: By bringing together key stakeholders, we aim to contribute to the development of best practices and policies that ensure the responsible use of AI agents in surgery.