PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Harry Etienne AU - Sarah Hamdi AU - Marielle Le Roux AU - Juliette Camuset AU - Theresa Khalife-Hocquemiller AU - Mihaela Giol AU - Denis Debrosse AU - Jalal Assouad TI - Artificial intelligence in thoracic surgery: past, present, perspective and limits AID - 10.1183/16000617.0010-2020 DP - 2020 Sep 30 TA - European Respiratory Review PG - 200010 VI - 29 IP - 157 4099 - http://err.ersjournals.com/content/29/157/200010.short 4100 - http://err.ersjournals.com/content/29/157/200010.full SO - EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY REVIEW2020 Sep 30; 29 AB - Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is becoming prevalent in many areas of everyday life. The healthcare industry is concerned by it even though its widespread use is still limited. Thoracic surgeons should be aware of the new opportunities that could affect their daily practice, by direct use of AI technology or indirect use via related medical fields (radiology, pathology and respiratory medicine). The objective of this article is to review applications of AI related to thoracic surgery and discuss the limits of its application in the European Union. Key aspects of AI will be developed through clinical pathways, beginning with diagnostics for lung cancer, a prognostic-aided programme for decision making, then robotic surgery, and finishing with the limitations of AI, the legal and ethical issues relevant to medicine. It is important for physicians and surgeons to have a basic knowledge of AI to understand how it impacts healthcare, and to consider ways in which they may interact with this technology. Indeed, synergy across related medical specialties and synergistic relationships between machines and surgeons will likely accelerate the capabilities of AI in augmenting surgical care.Surgeons should be engaged in assessing quality and applicability of AI advances to ensure appropriate translation to their clinical practice. This is fundamental as governments are increasing their funding and adapting their legislation to promote it. http://bit.ly/2V1yNB3