Surgeons have remotely controlled two human-like robots to perform surgery inside an operating theatre for the first time. The breakthrough, achieved at the University of California San Diego, marks a milestone in robotic medicine — humanoid machines taking on delicate procedures while directed from afar by human specialists.
The robots, standing and holding surgical equipment, successfully completed an operation in a staged theatre setting. An expert involved in the project spoke to the BBC's Tech Life programme about the achievement, though details of the procedure and the specific robots used have not been disclosed.
“Humanoid robots have performed surgery for the first time, controlled remotely by surgeons at UCSD.”
The development was revealed in a Tech Life episode broadcast on 14 July 2026, presented by Shiona McCallum and produced by Tom Quinn. The episode also covered other technology stories, including reflections from the inventor of the infinite scroll on social media and a carbon‑capture solution for cargo ships.
For now, the surgery remains a proof‑of–concept, but it signals a future where surgeons might operate on patients hundreds of miles away using humanoid avatars. The question is not whether this technology will reach hospitals — but when.