Litcius/Paper detail

Will your next surgeon be a robot? Autonomy and AI in robotic surgery

Samuel Schmidgall, Justin D. Opfermann, Ji Woong Kim, Axel Krieger

2025Science Robotics21 citationsDOIOpen Access PDF

Abstract

State-of-the-art surgery is performed robotically under direct surgeon control. However, surgical outcome is limited by the availability, skill, and day-to-day performance of the operating surgeon. What will it take to improve surgical outcomes independent of human limitations? In this Review, we explore the technological evolution of robotic surgery and current trends in robotics and artificial intelligence that could lead to a future generation of autonomous surgical robots that will outperform today's teleoperated robots.

Topics & Concepts

TeleoperationRoboticsSurgical robotRobotic surgeryRobotArtificial intelligenceAutonomyMedicineComputer scienceSurgeryPolitical scienceLawSurgical Simulation and TrainingAnatomy and Medical TechnologyAugmented Reality Applications