Researchers looked at how students learn general surgical skills when using two different methods: instruction from human experts and guidance from AI-augmented tutoring systems. The study included 268 participants practicing these skills in a simulated setting.
The results showed that the group using AI tutoring had slightly higher scores on one specific skill assessment compared to those with expert instructors. However, both groups performed similarly on other performance measures. One important finding was that students using the AI system reported a higher amount of mental effort during their training.
It is important to note that the evidence for these findings is not very strong because it relied on a single study with a high risk of bias. The small improvement seen in the AI group may not be large enough to change how surgical training is currently taught. These results suggest that while AI can be a helpful tool, it is not currently recommended as a replacement for human instructors.
Common questions
Is AI tutoring as effective as a human teacher?
The study found that AI-augmented tutoring systems were comparable to expert instruction for learning surgical skills. While the AI group showed a small improvement in one specific scoring category, the overall results suggest that AI is currently seen as a tool rather than a replacement for human experts.
Does using an AI system make the training harder?
Yes, the study found that students who used the AI-augmented tutoring systems reported significantly higher levels of extraneous cognitive load. This means they experienced more mental effort during the learning process compared to those who were taught by human experts.
Can surgeons use AI instead of humans for training?
The study does not support replacing human instructors with AI systems at this time. Because the evidence is limited and the improvements in some areas were small, current findings suggest that AI should be used as a supplement to, rather than a substitute for, expert instruction.
