The maturation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its rapid incorporation into almost every aspect of daily activity has been described as nothing less than the next great leap forward in human evolution. AI will have impacts on everything from automating complex processes and facilitating decision-making to the actual augmentation of human intelligence, communication and motor capabilities. Its influence on our specialty has already been felt in the context of surgical robotics, virtual training methods and brain-computer interfaces. Its progression has profound implications for society that range from practical, to philosophical.

It’s hard to overemphasize how critical this issue is to our community. In the information age, societal health is largely dependent on the maintenance of the cognitive, psychological, sensory/ motor, and communication health of its citizens, and that society, in turn — particularly a society that is creating technological innovation at breathtaking speed — exerts profound effects back on human neurophysiology. It follows that we, as neuro-clinicians, as neuroscientists and as thoughtful, caring professionals who have dedicated ourselves to the art and science of medicine, have as much and likely far greater potential at this moment in history to improve, and preserve, the health and well-being of individuals, and of society, as any of its citizens.

For all of these reasons, it is essential that the neurosurgical community promotes a broad understanding and, ultimately, a competency in the methods of AI, along with promoting dialogue about its best and most responsible uses.

For the first time in one of our major national meetings, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) will offer an Immersion Experience in AI for our membership. This program will extend throughout the meeting, and will allow for multiple opportunities for neurosurgeons to gain familiarity with AI applications and share perspectives about their significance.

The major offerings of this program include:

• AI Immersion in the AANS Exhibit Hall, where members will be given the opportunity on May 3-5 to hear presentations on various aspects of AI. They will also have the opportunity to interact with digital industry representatives to better understand the development of new products and services with a potential to profoundly influence the practice of neurological surgery.
• Craig Mundie, Cushing Orator — and recent past chief of strategy at Microsoft — will present a comprehensive overview of AI and review a variety of essential strategic and ethical issues created by that technology on Sunday Morning, May 5.
• AI Town Hall: Immediately following the Cushing Oration on May 5, members will be given the opportunity to directly interact with Mundie in an interactive session designed to more deeply explore issues of relevance related to AI to neurosurgical practice and society writ large.
• Special Course: Digital Fluency — A 90-minute course on Sunday afternoon, May 5, provided by experts in AI to allow members to gain a “tool kit” regarding various elements of AI of immediate relevance to neurosurgical practice.
• AANS Envision and Creation Project: On Monday, May 6, we will offer an interactive program — Neural Interfaces and the BCI Community — for members wishing to participate in a special effort to help design and produce systems of care capable of meeting the needs of modern society. More information about the Envision and Creation project, along with descriptions of the “six dialogues,” can be found here.

We are tremendously excited about these programs. Never before has there been a greater emphasis on this vitally important topic in one of our major, national meetings.

In summary, AI is posed to dramatically change our culture and ways of life. Given the role of brain health in promoting societal advancement, our role in preserving such health and the potential for AI to both enhance AND threaten our abilities to protect and preserve neurological function, it’s essential that we initiate a global, specialty-wide dialogue on this topic. We, as neuroscientists simply do not have the luxury at this stage in the evolution of humankind, particularly given our unique place in that evolution, to disengage from conversations of such consequence.

Thanks for considering adding your involvement and perspectives to these important cooperative dialogues.