Researchers successfully train robots to perform surgery by watching videos | This development could help address the looming shortage of surgeons in the US

From the article: In a significant leap forward in medical technology, researchers have developed autonomous surgical robots. However, there are many issues that need to be addressed before these machines are actually used on humans.

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University and Stanford University have successfully trained robots to perform surgical tasks with the precision of human doctors by watching videos. This advancement, presented at the recent Conference on Robot Learning in Munich, marks a significant step towards more autonomous surgical robots and could be a partial solution to the looming shortage of surgeons in the US.

Robotic assistance in surgery is not new. Since 1985, when the PUMA 560 first assisted in a brain biopsy, robots have been helping doctors perform various procedures, including gallbladder removals, hysterectomies, and prostate surgeries. These robots, guided by doctors using joystick-like controllers, have been instrumental in minimizing human hand tremors during delicate procedures.