In a landmark moment for medicine, humanoid robots have successfully performed surgery in an operating theatre for the first time, controlled remotely by surgeons. The procedure, which took place at an undisclosed location, marks a leap forward in telesurgery — a field that could one day allow specialists to operate on patients anywhere in the world.
The robots, described as human-shaped, handled surgical equipment in the theatre while surgeons guided them from a distance. An expert involved in the breakthrough spoke to the BBC’s Tech Life programme about the implications.
“Humanoid robots remotely controlled by surgeons have performed surgery in an operating theatre for the first time.”
“This is a step towards making expert surgical care accessible regardless of geography,” the expert said, though the programme did not name the individual.
The feat was achieved by researchers at the University of California San Diego, according to an image credit accompanying the broadcast. The episode, presented by Shiona McCallum and produced by Tom Quinn, was released on 14 July 2026.
While the exact nature of the surgery remains undisclosed, the successful use of humanoid robots in a real operating theatre — rather than a simulator — represents a first. Questions now turn to regulation, safety and when such technology might become routine in NHS hospitals.