Applications of artificial intelligence-enabled robots and chatbots in ophthalmology: recent advances and future trends

Purpose of review Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and chatbots have brought these technologies to the forefront of medicine, particularly ophthalmology. These technologies have been applied in diagnosis, prognosis, surgical operations, and patient-specific care in ophthalmology. It is thus both timely and pertinent to assess the existing landscape, recent advances, and trajectory of trends of AI, AI-enabled robots, and chatbots in ophthalmology. Recent findings Some recent developments have integrated AI enabled robotics with diagnosis, and surgical procedures in ophthalmology. More recently, large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT have shown promise in augmenting research capabilities and diagnosing ophthalmic diseases. These developments may portend a new era of doctor-patient-machine collaboration. Summary Ophthalmology is undergoing a revolutionary change in research, clinical practice, and surgical interventions. Ophthalmic AI-enabled robotics and chatbot technologies based on LLMs are converging to create a new era of digital ophthalmology. Collectively, these developments portend a future in which conventional ophthalmic knowledge will be seamlessly integrated with AI to improve the patient experience and enhance therapeutic outcomes.