Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk announced on Monday that advancements in robotics could enable machines to outperform the best human surgeons within the next five years.
Speaking in a post on the social media platform X, Musk—CEO of Tesla and SpaceX—emphasized the role of robots in his brain-computer interface company, Neuralink, where their precision and speed are crucial for tasks like brain-computer electrode insertions, which he claimed are beyond human capabilities.
“Robots will surpass good human surgeons within a few years and the best human surgeons within five years,” Musk stated. His comments were sparked by a previous post from influencer Mario Nawfal, who pointed out a significant breakthrough in robotic surgery by Medtronic, a U.S.-based medical device manufacturer.
Nawfal reported that Medtronic successfully utilized its Hugo robotic system in 137 real surgeries, including procedures involving the prostate, kidneys, and bladder. The results exceeded physicians’ expectations, boasting a success rate of over 98 percent, with notably low complication rates: 3.7 percent for prostate surgeries, 1.9 percent for kidney surgeries, and 17.9 percent for bladder surgeries. Out of the 137 surgeries, only two required a switch back to traditional surgical methods—one due to a robot malfunction and the other because of the complexity of the patient’s condition.
Currently, Musk’s Neuralink is conducting clinical trials for its brain-computer interface technology, which aims to develop brain-controlled devices for individuals suffering from paralysis and neurodegenerative diseases. While these devices are not yet available commercially, three patients have already received Neuralink brain implants.
“If all goes well, there will be hundreds of people with Neuralinks within a few years, maybe tens of thousands within five years, and millions within ten years,” Musk added in a 2024 X post.