Conclusions

AI in chronic pain rehabilitation should not be regarded as a simple technological add-on, but as the outcome of systemic design choices. In a field where empathy, adaptability, and complexity define clinical practice, AI must evolve in ways that are ethical, equitable, and human-centered. Key imperatives include participatory co-design with patients and clinicians to reduce digital fatigue; explainable and auditable systems that support, not supplant, clinical judgment; equity-by-design approaches to mitigate bias from the outset; moving away from flawed proxy variables; and sustainable financial models that reward long-term improvements in patient outcomes. When aligned with these principles, AI holds the capacity to transform the core mission of rehabilitation medicine.