ObjectiveTo summarize the research progress of artificial intelligence (AI) in the comprehensive navigation of colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery in recent years, and to explore its clinical application value and future development direction. MethodThe relevant research on AI in the comprehensive navigation of CRC surgery from China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases in the past 5 years was retrieved and reviewed. ResultsCurrently, AI had been applied throughout the entire process related to CRC surgery, and predictive models for preoperative staging and neoadjuvant efficacy evaluation had been developed, providing reference for surgical decision-making. During surgery, AI assisted real-time tumor localization, tracking, and precise tissue identification could be achieved, which help to implement surgery more safely. After surgery, a predictive tool for postoperative prognosis and survival was developed using AI, which improved the patient’s prognosis. ConclusionsAI has feasibility and high accuracy in assisting the entire cycle of CRC surgery, but it is still needed to address issues such as technical standardization and multimodal data fusion. In the future, with the deepening of medical engineering cooperation, AI technology will bring more innovation and change to CRC surgery.