Podcasts in hepatopancreatobiliary surgery: leveraging artificial intelligence for an emerging educational platform

Aim: The study examines the evolving role of podcasts as educational tools for hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) surgeons, emphasizing their flexibility, accessibility, and potential for fostering global learning communities. Methods: We review the rise of podcasts, focusing on general and HPB surgery podcasts, including their content, reach, and engagement metrics. It compares data from various podcast platforms and explores the integration of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered translation and dubbing technologies to address language barriers in medical education. Results: Podcasts are becoming an increasingly valuable resource for surgeons, particularly those in HPB surgery. Specialized podcasts such as “Behind the Knife” offer high engagement with focused content, while general surgery podcasts provide broader yet less concentrated education. AI technologies can enhance global accessibility by overcoming language barriers, enabling non-English-speaking surgeons to benefit from these educational resources. AI-driven voice synthesis tools like Rask.AI, ElevenLabs, and Lovo.ai enhance the listening experience by creating natural-sounding, real-time dubbed voiceovers in multiple languages, with Lovo.ai specifically leveraging machine learning to ensure accurate and contextually appropriate translations for specialized fields like surgery. Conclusion: Podcasts are poised to become central to HPB surgical education, offering flexibility and global reach. Addressing content fragmentation and language barriers through AI and centralizing resources could enhance their effectiveness, making high-quality medical education more inclusive and accessible worldwide.