This article first appeared in Forum, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on September 22, 2025 - September 28, 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising the field of surgery. AI-powered applications are now working alongside surgeons as indispensable partners, using vast datasets and advanced algorithms to provide real-time, life-saving insights. This technology isn’t just reshaping surgical procedures; it is actively enhancing and supercharging them for better patient outcomes worldwide. From pinpointing the perfect surgical plan before the first incision to predicting a patient’s recovery with stunning accuracy, AI is unlocking a new era of precision, safety and faster healing.

One example of AI is in the field of arthroplasty, with the invention of the ROSA (Robotic Surgical Assistant) knee system. It is a robotic arm-assisted technology that incorporates 3D modelling, real-time data and GPS-like tracking to enhance knee surgeries to be precise, down to each millimetre and personalised to each patient. This system is able to assist surgeons to do more precise surgery more objectively, leading to quicker recovery, reduced complications and morbidity compared with traditional methods. Though driven by AI, this system is not fully autonomous and is still dependent on the certified arthroplasty surgeon to make the final decisions.

Another pivotal innovation in this space is the da Vinci Surgical System. Operating from a console, the surgeon’s hand movements are translated into the ultra-fine motions of the robotic arms, essentially acting as a sophisticated extension of their own hands. It is the AI-powered visual overlays that make it revolutionary. Imagine an AI system highlighting the exact boundaries of a tumour or lighting up tiny, hard-to-spot blood vessels on a screen. This allows for less invasive procedures, which means smaller incisions, less blood loss, and a much faster return to daily life for the patient.

In addition, in the high-stakes world of neurosurgery, Brainlab AI software is a game-changer. It takes complex CT and MRI scans and turns them into an invaluable 3D road map of the brain. The software precisely delineates tumours and highlights critical nerves and blood vessels, allowing neurosurgeons to navigate the brain like never before. Early research is even showing that Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models of AI can detect the recurrence of a tumour from scans alone, acting as an early warning system.

The impact of AI extends far beyond the moment of surgery. It is fundamentally changing how surgeons are trained and how patient risks are managed. What used to be an apprenticeship model through learning with a real patient, which has little to no room for mistakes, is now a thing of the past. Now, with AI-powered virtual reality (VR), trainees can practice complex cases in a safe, controlled digital environment. The AI provides instant, objective feedback, helping trainees hone their skills until they are perfect. It is like having a master surgeon looking over their shoulder at every moment, offering guidance and critique without the risk.

AI algorithms are also acting as powerful predictors. By analysing a patient’s medical history, these systems can forecast the risk of complications such as blood clots or infections before they happen. This early warning empowers doctors to take preventive action, transforming reactive medicine into proactive care.

This exciting wave of technology naturally brings up a question: will AI replace surgeons? The answer, according to medical experts, is a resounding no. The relationship is a synergistic one, where AI augments the surgeon’s abilities. It allows them to operate with intelligence, freeing them to focus on what truly matters.

The future of surgery isn’t a contest between human and machine but a collaboration. While AI provides unparalleled precision, in our view, it cannot replace the essential role of a surgeon:

● Clinical judgment and adaptability: AI is limited to its training data. A surgeon, with years of experience and intuition, can handle the unexpected — a sudden bleed or an anatomical anomaly — and make critical, life-or-death decisions on the spot.

● Empathy and Compassion: AI can’t provide the human connection crucial for patient care. It can’t offer reassurance, ethical guidance, or the empathy needed to help a patient and their family through a difficult journey.

● Ultimate Accountability: The final responsibility for a patient’s well-being rests with the surgeon. A surgeon’s judgment carries a moral and legal weight that no algorithm can bear.

This partnership, combining the surgeon’s wisdom with AI’s cutting-edge tools, delivers safer, more precise and personalised care for the ultimate benefit of the patient.

Akhil Gupta is the deputy chair of AI Chapter at PIKOM (the National Tech Association of Malaysia) and group CEO of a conglomerate delivering IT infrastructure, AI and talent solutions globally. Professor Datuk Dr Hanafiah Harunarashid is the pro-vice-chancellor of the Kuala Lumpur Campus of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Dr Levin Kesu Belani is an orthopaedic surgeon at the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

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