Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is increasingly integrated into minimally invasive surgery for colorectal cancer, playing a vital role in key areas such as medical image analysis, anatomical structure segmentation, automated surgical workflow annotation, quantitative assessment of surgical skills, and personalized decision support. These advancements are accelerating the intelligent transformation of surgery, enhancing intraoperative navigation accuracy, and promoting individualized treatment. Despite its promising potential, the application of AI still faces challenges including limited algorithm generalizability, delays in real-time data processing, and data privacy concerns. This review summarizes recent progress in the application of AI in colorectal cancer minimally invasive surgery, highlights cutting-edge research, and envisions the transition of AI from proof-of-concept to clinical practice, aiming to establish a safer, more precise, and intelligent surgical paradigm.