TopMedTalk - The role of AI in Anaesthesia: Insights from James Bowness
Anaesthesia on Air
The next episode from our colleagues at TopMedTalk features Andy Cumpstey interviewing James Bowness, consultant anaesthetist, at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and an Honorary Associate Professor of Anaesthesia at University College London.
James and Andy discuss the definition and scope of AI, how it can be applied to healthcare, why Apple's approach to technology product development doesn't work in healthcare, and how clinicians can meaningfully get involved. James advocates for better links between industry and academia or clinical practitioners, and sees the opportunities for a so-called 'second mover advantage', to learn from successes and failures elsewhere before adopting them in anaesthesia and perioperative care. James shares the exciting work he's done with a national demand-signalling project for AI in anaesthesia.
Andy spoke to James at the RCoA's Anaesthesia Research 2025 event in an episode first released in February 2026.
Useful Links:
Shaping the future of AI in anaesthesia - demand-signalling project
Dr James Bowness staff page (UCLH)
TopMedTalk episode page
Anaesthesia Research 2026