An Interview with AI

Nations worldwide are facing the challenges of an ever-increasing population, putting an unprecedented demand and expectation on healthcare services. The chasm between the demand and supply of healthcare provision has deepened to an unprecedented level. An ageing population, increasing chronic disease burden, increasing life expectancy and resource-scarce public health services are some critical aspects of this problem. Our future workforce will have to be smarter, resource-conscious, efficient and patient-centric. Healthcare education will require steadfast, unambiguous strategic policies and novel ideas for training the future generation. 

Human civilisation has chronicled the stories of great thinkers who brought paradigm shifts in their time! Great civilisations of the past have mythologised their champion philosophers. The first quarter of this century has delivered some prominent thinkers like Dr Atul Gawande (the author of 'Better' and 'The Checklist Manifesto', among other titles) or Professor Tim Briggs (the proponent of 'GIRFT' and the Chair of NHS England National Director for Clinical Improvement and Elective Recovery).  

We know how AI dominates the current headlines (losing only to war and global warming)! ChatGPT (generative performance trainer) is well known for its remarkable ability to access and analyse information. A recent study assessed ChatGPT's ability to pass the FRCS Orthopaedic Part A exam. Remarkably, ChatGPT 4 took only six seconds to generate a response. Although it failed the exam with a 67.5% score (only just below the passing score of 70%). This article is not a panegyric of ChatGPT. With a compelling curiosity, I conducted a Q&A session with ChatGPT 3.5, asking the following questions on surgical training.  

Q: What is the one idea that can change the quality of surgical training? 

ChatGPT: Implementing virtual reality (VR) simulations in surgical education can significantly enhance training by providing realistic, hands-on experiences, improving skills, and reducing the learning curve for surgeons. 

Q: What is the one dogma that still needs to be challenged in surgical training? 

ChatGPT: One dogma to challenge in surgical training is the rigid hierarchy. Encouraging a more collaborative and inclusive environment, where learners actively participate and contribute to decision-making, can foster innovation and enhance overall surgical education. 

Q: Does the master-apprentice model work in surgical training?                     

ChatGPT: While the master-apprentice model has been a traditional approach in surgical training, evolving educational methods, such as incorporating technology and simulation, can enhance the learning experience. A more balanced, multifaceted approach, combining mentorship with modern tools, may provide surgeons with a more effective and comprehensive training environment.  

These responses demonstrate a critical analysis of contemporary knowledge and opinion in a nuanced field of medical education! ChatGPT can gather information, evaluate the evidence and synthesise a precise but balanced view on a niche topic within seconds. My opinion on the above matters bears a striking similarity to ChatGPT’s responses. However, I have never discussed these matters on the ChatGPT platform prior to my Q&A session, preventing any possibility of bias.  

A thought leader is a person who specialises in a given area and whom others in that industry turn to for guidance (Wikipedia). Can AI replace a thought leader? Will it be able to make strategic policies for the wholesome improvement of its creator? Thought leaders possess a remarkable ability to critically analyse and synthesise a vast amount of information to generate a precise and balanced view. These are exactly the qualities we observed and continue to observe in ChatGPT. However, what separates a great thinker from an expert is the ability to think laterally, connecting seemingly unrelated areas of knowledge to create an alternative perspective and an innovative solution. This brings me to my final question to ChatGPT.  

Q: Are you able to think laterally and generate a novel idea?  

ChatGPT: Yes, I can help generate novel ideas by drawing connections between seemingly unrelated concepts or exploring alternative perspectives. If you have a specific area in mind, feel free to ask, and I’ll do my best to provide creative and lateral insights.  

These are untested claims, and only time will tell. However, it seems that Prometheus is inching closer to the fire.