AIONS Consensus Conference on Definitions of Artificial Intelligence Surgery, Surgomics and Robotics
This Consensus Statement was jointly developed by the Editorial Board Members of Artificial Intelligence Surgery and the Artificial Intelligence Organization for the Next Generation of Surgeons (AIONS). The initiative began in February 2025 and proceeded through iterative drafting of definitions, online meetings, expert subgroup revisions, an online validation survey, an in-person Consensus Conference, and a final online meeting to confirm revisions and review the conference manuscript. Votes greater than or equal to 80 percent were considered validating. Definitions were sought for: (1) Surgery, (2) Endoluminal Surgery, (3) Percutaneous Surgery, (4) Robot, (5) Surgical Robot, (6) Robot-Assisted Surgery, (7) Telemanipulator Surgery, (8) Remote Surgery, (9) Collaborative Robotic (Cobotic) Surgery, (10) Robotic Surgery, (11) Artificial Intelligence Surgery, (12) Surgomics, (13) Surgical Multiomics, (14) Non-Invasive Surgery, (15) Digital Surgery, (16) Computer-Assisted Surgery, and (17) Cybersurgery. All candidate definitions achieved at least 80 percent approval in an online vote prior to the Consensus Conference. The in-person meeting occurred on 26 September 2025 at the Orto Botanico, University of Padova, Italy, where 11 definitions were ratified. The definition of Surgery was deemed premature and invalidated. Surgomics and Surgical Multiomics were determined to be distinct entities and were therefore revoted online after the meeting. Collaborative Robotics was clarified as requiring co-local presence of the surgeon and robot. Definitions for Percutaneous Surgery and Robot were amended and validated during a follow-up online vote on 11 November. Ultimately, all 17 definitions were validated. This Consensus provides terminology, rationale, and strategic direction for the surgical field as artificial intelligence, robotics, and data science reshape surgical practice. Future Consensus Conferences are planned to update definitions as the field evolves.
