“We have fewer of these hesitancy events when we misplace a needle and have to pull it back out, so significantly better in these errors. And also in the spacing (of the sutures)—much more consistent,” he said.
The goal behind AI-powered robotic surgery is two-fold: make surgery less invasive for patients and meet the growing demand. According to data shared during the panel, there is already a shortage of surgeons and the caseload is expected to double as the aging population grows. Robots could augment critical portions of surgery with better precision and increasing autonomy. Each year, 310 million major surgeries are performed. In 2023, about four million were performed with robotic assistance, and this rate is expected to grow by 18% annually.