To help accelerate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in surgery, Johnson & Johnson MedTech launched the Polyphonic™ AI Fund for Surgery QuickFire Challenge. Researchers and innovators in the Surgical Data Science field worldwide are invited to submit ideas for AI technologies that have the potential to improve surgical decision‑making, strengthen data management and governance processes, and drive surgical efficiency across the connected operating room.

Around the world, more than 330 million surgical procedures are performed each year. (1) To help meet this great patient need, over 90% of hospitals and healthcare systems in the United States now have an AI or automation strategy, a significant increase from 53% in 2019. (2) These digital technologies are emerging as game changers in surgical environments where every second matters, playing a pivotal role in transforming outcomes for patients. Through connected systems and fueled by real‑time collection, integration and analysis of surgical data, surgeons aim to leverage these tools to drive efficiencies, inform decision‑making, and extend surgical training and education across the surgical continuum. (3)

If you’re working on AI for surgical applications—such as decision support, workflow optimization, perioperative analytics, or data governance—consider applying to this QuickFire Challenge to help bring your technology closer to real‑world adoption.