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Doctors get AI-powered robot to successfully perform surgery after training it with videos

It might sound like a scene from a sci-fi movie, but robots are getting closer to performing surgery just by watching videos.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and Stanford University have developed a robotic surgeon that can match human skills for certain procedures after observing human doctors in action. This advancement could be a game-changer in the world of medical robotics.

Surgical precision meets AI
Instead of the traditional method of manually programming every move a surgical robot should make, the researchers used imitation learning to train the robot. They leveraged the da Vinci Surgical System, a popular tool for minimally invasive surgery.

Imitation learning allows an AI model to observe and absorb complex tasks, similar to how humans learn through observation. In this case, the AI was exposed to hundreds of videos captured by wrist-mounted cameras worn by surgeons performing tasks like needle manipulation, suturing, and tissue lifting.

The AI didn’t just watch the videos passively. It analysed the intricate movements of the human hands and the surgical instruments, converting these into mathematical data it could use. This training enabled the robot to perform the tasks on command, using the same techniques as the human doctors it had observed.

It’s a process reminiscent of how some AI systems learn to perform various tasks by analysing videos, like Google’s efforts to teach robots to navigate and complete challenges through video observation.

AI in the operating room
Axel Krieger from Johns Hopkins University, who co-authored the study, explained the surprising abilities of the model. The AI could adapt on the fly, recovering from errors such as dropping a needle and resuming work seamlessly—something it wasn’t explicitly trained to do.

This adaptability hints at the potential of AI-powered robots to revolutionise surgical practices by reducing human error and improving precision.

Despite initial concerns about robots operating with scalpels and sutures, the precision that machines offer can actually make certain procedures safer. Robotic surgery is already used widely, and having an AI capable of handling parts of an operation independently could allow human surgeons to concentrate on more complex issues, ultimately leading to better outcomes for patients.

The research team is not stopping here. They plan to train AI models to handle full surgical procedures, inching closer to a future where robots might independently perform entire surgeries.

They’re also not alone in this pursuit. Earlier this year, an AI-driven robot successfully carried out a dental procedure without supervision, underscoring the growing momentum of AI in healthcare. As these technologies develop, the future of surgery could become a fascinating blend of human and robotic expertise.

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