London Surgeons Perform World's First Live AI-Assisted Brain Surgery

Surgeons at University College London Hospital successfully removed an 11mm non-cancerous pituitary tumor from 48-year-old patient Rhys Hibbert using a bespoke AI tool for real-time navigation.

The AI system analyzed live video feeds to identify hidden nerves and carotid arteries, reducing the risk of injury during the procedure which carries a 0.5% to 2% chance of vessel damage.

Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and Google, the team is now planning a larger trial for the technology, which acts as an expert second pair of eyes.