Elon Musk Says Robots Will Surpass Best Human Surgeons In Next Five Years
Elon Musk shared on X that his Neuralink company recently used a robot to insert brain-computer electrodes, as the task couldn’t be performed by humans with the same precision.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Monday predicted that robots will have the capability to surpass good human surgeons within a few years and the best human surgeons within about five years.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk said that his neuro-tech company, Neuralink recently used a robot to perform the function of inserting brain-computer electrodes. He explained that the robot was used as it was "impossible for a human to achieve the required speed and precision."
His post came in response to another post, which shed light on the increasing role of robotics in medicine. The original post, shared by influencer Mario Nawfal, highlighted a recent breakthrough by the medical device company Medtronic. The US-Irish firm successfully deployed its Hugo robotic system in large-scale surgeries, achieving a success rate of over 98%.
According to a press release shared by the company, its study included 137 patients who underwent urologic procedures using the Hug robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system. The outcomes met safety and effectiveness goals, the company said.
With the move, Medtronic inches closer to giving US surgeons more options when it comes to choosing robotic surgery tools, the company said.
In a video shared by the company on YouTube, surgeons are shown using controls to guide the Hugo system during surgery. This indicates that the robots don’t operate on their own and surgeons are actively involved in the process.
The post shared by Musk didn’t clarify whether he was referring to robots assisting completely on their own or simply supporting surgeons during procedures.
Musk’s Neuralink company is currently engaged in a clinical trial of its brain-computer interface technology. The company aims to create brain-controlled devices for people with paralysis or neurodegenerative diseases. None of the devices are yet commercial, but so far, three people have received a Neuralink brain implant.
Brad Smith, the third Neuralink implant recipient, recently shared a video showing his progress with the technology, demonstrating how he can control his MacBook and speak again, despite his paralysis.
