Autonomous Robot Surgery Could Reach Humans Within Ten Years

Autonomous Robot Surgery Could Reach Humans Within Ten Years
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Fully automated surgery could be tested on humans within the next decade after AI-powered robots successfully removed pig gallbladders without any human assistance, according to researchers. A team led by Johns Hopkins University trained the robots using video footage of human surgeons operating on organs from deceased pigs. The breakthrough, detailed in Science Robotics, saw eight operations completed with a 100% success rate.

The robots, equipped to cut, clip, and handle soft tissue, performed the gallbladder removal in just over five minutes, completing 17 precise steps while independently adjusting tools and correcting errors. Although slightly slower than human surgeons, the robots demonstrated smoother movements and shorter task routes.

Experts have described the development as promising. John McGrath, who chairs NHS England’s robotics committee, called it “impressive” and said it moves the field closer to autonomy, potentially allowing surgeons to supervise multiple robotic procedures at once in the future.

However, McGrath cautioned that further testing is needed to address challenges such as handling live tissue, patient movement, and other unpredictable conditions in real surgeries. Nuha Yassin, who leads robotic surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, emphasized that safety and training must guide the next steps.

Currently, most NHS robotic surgeries are fully human-controlled, with limited semi-autonomous procedures for orthopaedic operations. The UK government aims to expand robotic surgery to help tackle waiting lists, with projections that nine in ten keyhole surgeries could involve robot assistance within ten years.