86% of Surgical Trainees Want AI Training. 83% Get None.
Artificial intelligence is already part of surgical practice, but training has not caught up.
A survey published on May 21, 2026, in Updates in Surgery measured that gap.
It covered 322 surgical residents and postgraduates at three Chinese medical universities.
Trainees Already Use AI
Among respondents, 76.7% reported prior experience with clinical AI-related applications.
They generally recognized the value of these tools.
Almost Nobody Was Taught
A total of 267 respondents reported no formal AI training, which is about 83%.
Even so, 85.7% supported formal integration of AI into surgical training programs.
Confidence Lags Behind Use
Self-reported preparedness to judge AI and use it responsibly was modest or low.
Over 75% had limited confidence in evaluating model reliability.
The same group had limited confidence in spotting bias or other limitations.
Needs Change by Training Year
First-year residents were most interested in learning AI basics.
Second-year residents preferred human and AI collaboration and AI-assisted imaging analysis.
Third-year residents wanted AI for research design and data analysis.
The differences across training stages were statistically significant.
The authors call for a structured curriculum tailored to each stage and specialty.
What the Survey Cannot Show
The preparedness figures are self-reported, and the sample comes from three universities in China.
For a wider view of surgical AI and robotics, read The 2026 Surgical Technology Intelligence Report.
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