AO Companion: Smarter learning for better care
True to the AO’s commitment to transforming surgical education through engaging, relevant, and guided learning, the AO Education Institute (AO EI) is taking another bold step forward with the AO Companion app.
With the AO Companion—an AI-powered, mobile-first learning platform—the AO EI puts the AO’s foundational knowledge of orthopedic trauma at learners’ fingertips. In this first phase, the app focuses on the AO Principles of Fracture Management, Vol. 1: Principles, reimagined for digital consumption.
With features like AI-generated summaries and multiple-choice questions, multilingual translation, audio playback, and a presentation generator, the AO Companion empowers learners to engage with content in the format that best suits them.
Smarter and more inclusive
More than a new format, the AO Companion is a leap toward a smarter, more inclusive educational experience. The AO EI leverages user feedback to refine the app’s capabilities, ensuring that content remains relevant, trustworthy, and aligned with the needs of today’s global surgical community. Piloted at the Swiss and international AO Trauma Course—Principles of Fracture Management and, in parallel, demonstrated at the AO EI booth at the AO Davos Courses 2024 in December, the app has already earned an enthusiastic response from surgeons.
Creating an interactive learning environment out of what used to be a textbook is one of the best applications of AI that I’ve seen so far.
Rodrigo Pesantez
A strategic push
The AO Companion is part of a broader strategic push by the AO EI to expand digital capabilities, modernize content production, and deploy intelligent learning platforms across specialties. The app will fill a gap by transforming orthopedic textbooks into a relevant, guided, trustworthy, AI-supported online learning experience.
“The AO Companion began as a discovery project,” shared Executive Director of the AO Education Institute Tobias Hüttl. “Today we’re proud to see it transforming our trusted AO content into an interactive, AI-powered learning experience. It’s a major step forward in using the latest technology to make surgical education more accessible, relevant, and personalized—while staying true to the quality our learners rely on.”
AO Trauma Education Commission Chairperson Rodrigo Pesantez added that “creating an interactive learning environment out of what used to be a textbook is one of the best applications of AI that I’ve seen so far.”
Try the AO Companion for free through 2025
The AO is offering a free trial of the AO Companion app through the end of the year. Whether you’re a faculty member, resident, or lifelong learner, now is the perfect time to explore how AI can enhance your educational journey.
Download the AO Companion app today and experience the future of surgical education.
