My my my, AI

While you and I may have the tune to Delilah in our heads, it's a song that contains lyrics that simply haven't aged well, whichever way you cut it. And somehow that's quite prophetic for this BDJ In Practice first ever artificial intelligence themed issue. Let me explain.

Throughout the years, we have collectively seen once great techniques, technologies and ways of doing things eclipsed by the power of ‘today'. The battle for artificial intelligence is bigger than the battle for Helms Deep and Middle Earth - the number of platforms out there functioning on AI is incredible. They almost make ChatGPT look like an ancient relic - it moves that fast.

In fact, it moves that fast, it's made a bit of a mockery of me. I swore we'd never have an AI-themed issue because the information could potentially be out of date within a week, and yet the profession continues to find ways to let it into their practice, they way they practise and their daily workflow. That's clearly not a universal thought - plenty are just as reluctant to embrace AI as those who can't do enough to make it part of their workplace. It's a fascinating dichotomy evolving, and one to keep an eye on.

And why is this? Well, naturally many have found a way to work that appeases their patient base and most likely their bottom line - AI technology is not exactly cheap. It is why the balance between expenditure and investment is more of a tightrope than a see-saw; it's almost as if some practitioners - rightly or wrongly - actively wish to keep the AI gremlins at bay. It's an approach that makes me smile. AI is here - it's not a fad, and it's not something that can easily be avoided. It's in the booking software we use, the way we store patient data. That's acceptable, right? Of course it is. So why the reluctance, the ‘I don't deal with that crap in my practice' view of the world?

It reminds me of a conversation I had with Dr Marcos White at Align Technology's Growth Summit in 2022, where I asked him what comes after the digital revolution. His answer? ‘Digital but better' was his view, and it made me chuckle then, and still does today. Alas, I think he was right. Even in these years that followed, it's impossible to comprehend just how quickly AI has - and continues - to develop.

© Andriy Onufriyenko/Moment/Getty Images Plus

And so to the issue. We hear from some big hitters who embraced AI from the top down and made it a root and branch part of their ethos, their business. It's a fascinating insight into what happens when you don't have a ceiling, or when you move past the limit of what you set yourself. We also hear from Manas Dave who co-authored the pioneering article, written entirely by AI in the BDJ, on the impact that paper has had. We also discuss the ethical boundaries which AI operate within, where the red line between using AI as a diagnostic tool and the need for the dentist is, and where that could potentially be in the future. Speaking of the future, we also hear about where AI in oral surgery could be in five years' time.

While there is immense value in horizon scanning, blue sky thinking and the opinions of those in the know, we can all agree there is no substitute for an evidence-based approach, which is why our sister title, Evidence-Based Dentistry, will soon be open for submissions on an AI themed issue of its own, examining the intersection of AI and evidence-based approaches of the dental practitioner, so do keep your eyes peeled for that. Enjoy the issue, and carry on the conversation.◆