Humanoid robots perform first surgeries

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego successfully conducted two surgeries using teleoperated humanoid robots, nicknamed Surgie, in a preclinical trial published in Nature on July 8, 2026. In one procedure, a humanoid robot worked alongside a human surgeon to remove a gallbladder; in another, two humanoid robots operated together. The robots are compact (5 feet tall, 60 pounds) and cost a fraction of traditional surgical robotic systems, which weigh about 1,800 pounds. The trial demonstrates potential for expanding access to surgery in remote, under-resourced areas, including rural clinics, battlefields, and space. Challenges remain, including recalibration needs and communication latency, but researchers are confident these will improve with further development.