Will AI replace Surgical Technologists?
AI can do 3% of the work Surgical Technologists do at least twice as fast. Real use has not caught up: none of their tasks show up in real AI use yet, but AI could speed up 1 of them. Robots can technically handle 5 physical tasks. 10 still need a person.
AI is already doing this0 · 0% of time
People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.
- Real AI use has not reached any of this job's tasks yet.
AI could do this next1 · 3% of time
AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.
- Maintain files and records of surgical procedures.3% of time
Robots can technically do this5 · 16% of time
Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.
- Wash and sterilize equipment, using germicides and sterilizers.Robots: purpose built settings5% of time
- Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
- Prepare, care for, and dispose of tissue specimens taken for laboratory analysis.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
- Prepare dressings or bandages and apply or assist with their application following surgery.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
- Maintain supply of fluids, such as plasma, saline, blood, or glucose, for use during operations.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time
Still needs a person10 · 82% of time
No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.
- Hand instruments and supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors and cut sutures, and perform other tasks as directed by surgeon during operation.26% of time
- Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.16% of time
- Clean and restock operating room, gathering and placing equipment and supplies and arranging instruments according to instructions, such as a preference card.9% of time
- Provide technical assistance to surgeons, surgical nurses, or anesthesiologists.6% of time
- Prepare patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure.6% of time
- Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing.5% of time
- Operate, assemble, adjust, or monitor sterilizers, lights, suction machines, or diagnostic equipment to ensure proper operation.5% of time
- Monitor and continually assess operating room conditions, including patient and surgical team needs.5% of time
- Observe patients' vital signs to assess physical condition.1% of time
- Order surgical supplies.1% of time
Your week is not the average
Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.
What this means
Little of this work suits AI or today's robots. Most tasks depend on hands, presence or people skills.
What to do next
- Get ahead on the 1 task AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
- Keep an eye on the 5 physical tasks robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
- Build on the 10 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
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