Are We Training Surgeons or Supervisors? Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and the Future of Surgical Expertise in Orthopedics

Orthopedic surgery isn’t exactly magic, but it demands mastery: doing the right thing reliably, safely, and under pressure. For decades, training has relied on progressive responsibility observation, assistance, supervised performance, and independent practice within a stable environment. Artificial intelligence, computer vision, next-generation robotics, mixed reality, and generative tools are now reshaping that environment and raising a central concern: are we training future surgeons or future supervisors of automated systems? We describe “supervisor drift” in the modern OR as trainees spend more time with planning platforms, navigation, consoles, and overlays, while attendings increasingly verify system accuracy and maintain sterility amid expanding technology. We summarize educational benefits including personalized AI coaching, case vignettes, AR/VR simulation, and AI-assisted templating and preoperative planning, alongside barriers of cost and cultural resistance and early AI literacy courses. Finally, we outline recommendations to prevent deskilling: dual-competency milestones, documentation of AI use, bias and error recognition, protected low-tech cases, and clear governance and accountability.

کلیدواژه ها:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) ، virtual reality (VR) ، orthopedic education ، AI-driven ، Personalized Learning ، residency training