Introduction to the special issue of The Spine Journal on artificial intelligence and machine learning.

In the last 5 years, artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms have made rapid advances for diagnosis and prognosis in fields ranging from dermatology to anesthesiology. How do we make sense of the rise of AI in healthcare and specifically in spine? How much of what we see today is "hype" and what will remain when the dust settles? In this special issue, several reviews and original articles help us understand the state of AI in healthcare today, the avenues for future progress, and the implications for spine care.  Continued engagement, skepticism, and collaboration with technical experts will allow for the development of AI systems that complement and expand our abilities to diagnose, predict, and operate.