Survey on the perceptions of Asian endoscopists to artificial intelligence.

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy for managing gastrointestinal diseases. However, there is limited knowledge of the perspective of endoscopists towards AI technology, particularly in the Asian community. This study aims to bridge this knowledge gap to guide policymakers, healthcare providers, and technology developers through an Asia AI Task Force.

Methods: An online survey of 45 questions exploring (a) the perceived benefits of AI in endoscopy, (b) the barriers to adopting AI in endoscopy, (c) the priority areas and barriers to research in AI endoscopy, as well as (d) priorities for an Asia AI Task Force were distributed between November 2022 and May 2023 to endoscopists from sixteen medical institutes across ten Asian regions.

Results: A total of 293 participants completed the survey. Two-fifths (41.98%, n = 123) report no prior exposure to AI endoscopy. The majority (73.2%, n = 90/123) of those without prior AI exposure express concerns about the accountability of AI and its impact on working practices. Almost all participants agree that AI enhances quality improvement (90.8%, n = 266) and leads to better diagnosis (90.4%, n = 265). 69% (n = 202) identify "staying up to date with AI advances" as the top challenge towards clinical adoption of AI. Notably, those without prior AI exposure express high concern regarding accountability for the wrong diagnoses (73.2% vs. 60.6%, p = 0.03) and lack of clinical trials (76.4% vs. 57.1%, p = 0.001). Most respondents prioritise developing a reference paper guide for clinicians interested in AI (81.2%) and supporting funding applications for AI research (81.5%) as key areas that an Asia AI Endoscopy task force should address.

Conclusions: The survey results from Asian endoscopists emphasise the pressing need for collaborative frameworks and educational initiatives, including establishing an Asia AI Task Force, to facilitate the successful integration of AI in endoscopy practice and research across the region.