Authors: Higgins, K. Elliott III M.D. et al
Anesthesiology ():10.1097/ALN.0000000000005712, October 13, 2025.
This Letter to the Editor responds to the Anesthesia Research Council’s recent expert report on artificial intelligence (AI) in anesthesiology. The authors commend the report for defining the current state and future vision of AI but caution that its integration into clinical practice must account for workforce well-being and ethical implications.
AI is often promoted as a solution to healthcare workload pressures and has indeed shown promise in improving adherence to evidence-based practice, reducing errors, and supporting decision-making. However, the authors emphasize that these potential benefits can be offset by risks—particularly clinician burnout, inequitable workload distribution, and reduced professional satisfaction. Lessons from prior technology adoption, such as electronic medical records and smartphone integration, highlight that innovations can unintentionally create new sources of fatigue and distraction even as they increase efficiency.
A central argument of the letter is that representation from anesthesia workforce well-being experts must be included in AI development and policy efforts. Workforce sustainability is inseparable from patient safety and organizational performance, and technology should support, not strain, that relationship. The authors also warn of the ethical dangers of biased or poorly validated algorithms that could reinforce inequities or erode clinician trust.
Ultimately, while artificial intelligence holds transformative potential for perioperative medicine, its success depends on thoughtful, human-centered implementation—balancing innovation with clinician health, equity, and ethical oversight.
What You Should Know
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AI can enhance evidence-based care and reduce errors but may also increase burnout and workload imbalance if poorly integrated.
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Lessons from prior technologies (e.g., electronic medical records) underscore the need for human-centered design.
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Anesthesiology leaders and workforce well-being experts must have a voice in shaping AI policy and deployment.
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The ethical use of AI requires constant evaluation for bias, fairness, and workforce impact.
Thank you to Anesthesiology for publishing this timely commentary urging that AI adoption in anesthesiology prioritize both patient safety and clinician well-being.