Will surgeons be replaced by robots?
Asked by: Antonia Trantow | Last update: January 22, 2026Score: 4.9/5 (52 votes)
The same holds true for medical procedures. The majority of experts in robotic surgery and AI tend to concur that it is unlikely that human surgeons would ever be entirely replaced by an AI-controlled surgical robot. AI is meant to support, not replace, a surgeon's ability to make decisions and carry them out [37].
Are robots replacing surgeons?
While robots may be proficient in executing precise medical procedures, they can never replace these qualities that make us human. Robots are indeed becoming even more precise, allowing surgeons to do things that were never before possible.
Will surgeons be needed in the future?
A growing, aging population means a greater need for surgery. Increased life expectancy will be the primary driver behind increased surgical volume, and there are not enough surgeons to meet the demand.
Will surgeons be taken over by AI?
So, will AI replace surgeons? It's unlikely. However, given that AI tools have the ability to improve patient safety, clinical outcomes, quality of care, and clinical documentation, according to AMA President Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, “Physicians who use AI will replace those who don't.”
Will neurosurgeons be replaced by robots?
AI technology is meant to assist neurosurgeons, not replace them.
Will robots replace surgeons? | Testing surgical robots | Robots in Japan
Will neurosurgeons be needed in the future?
However, in the future, neurosurgeons will play a pivotal role in the application of AI and robots, as well as in the development of their own devices. They will also participate in a great deal of collaborative research with the healthcare industry.
Will surgery be done by robots?
Many specialists use robot-assisted surgery, including: General surgeons. Brain and spinal surgeons. Cardiothoracic surgeons.
What jobs will AI not replace?
Industries like healthcare, education, creative arts, human resources, and trades (e.g., electricians, plumbers) are less affected by AI because they require human judgment, creativity, and physical dexterity.
Why won't AI replace doctors?
A surgeon cannot predict how a procedure will go until they begin and see what's happening with tissues inside the body. Then, they make decisions in the moment based on what they find. Critical thinking is a skill that cannot be duplicated by robots.
What medical jobs are at risk from AI?
- Medical Transcriptionists.
- Pharmacy Technicians.
- Medical Billing and Coding Specialists.
- Radiologic Technologists.
- Phlebotomists.
- Data Entry Clerks in Healthcare.
- Healthcare Administrators (for specific tasks)
- Inventory Managers in Healthcare.
Are surgeons declining?
The number of general surgeons per 100,000 people in the United States declined by 26% from the 1980s to 2005. Cumulative growth in demand for general surgery is projected to exceed 25% by 2025. The Association of American Medical Colleges has projected a shortage of 41,000 general surgeons by 2025.
What surgeon is the hardest to become?
Neurological Surgery. Neurosurgery is often considered one of the most demanding and competitive specialties in medicine.
Which medical field has the best future?
- Midwife.
- Medical and health services manager.
- Physician assistant.
- Speech-language pathologist.
- Physical therapist.
- Marriage and family therapist.
- Family nurse practitioner.
- Certified registered nurse anesthetist.
What percentage of surgeries are robotic?
Between 2012 and 2022, the percentage of general surgery procedures using robotic surgery rose from 1.8% to 17%. Robotic surgery is becoming increasingly popular in various fields, with an annual growth rate of around 15%. Its global volume was 1.24 million in 2020, with the US accounting for 70.6% of total surgery.
Will Robots ever be doctors?
Will Robots Replace Doctors by 2050? - Quora. Replace, no, that's extremely unlikely to happen that soon. I would certainly expect the use of robotics in medicine to expand significantly over that period - basically the next 25 years - as well as seeing a much bigger role for AI/expert systems in diagnostics.
What is the future of surgery?
Thus, surgeons will have to begin thinking about performing surgical procedures without entering the body or using a scalpel. There is also significant progress with femtosecond lasers. These new lasers are totally different from those used today - they release their energy in 10 - 15 seconds ultra-short pulses.
Will doctors become obsolete?
Yet, despite AI's advancements, the unique aspects of the doctor-patient relationship, the nuances of clinical judgment, and the ethical boundaries of medicine suggest that the role of doctors will likely transform rather than become obsolete.
Will AI take over surgeons?
Although it might not be possible for any AI to replace surgeons in complex surgical procedures, it has been shown by Thananjeyan et al. that robots linked with AI can make incisions with extreme precision along with minor suturing [83].
What jobs will AI take in 10 years?
- Data Entry Clerks.
- Telemarketers.
- Receptionists.
- Customer Service Representatives.
- Retail Cashiers.
- Bookkeeping Clerks.
- Billing Clerks.
- Assembly Line Workers.
What skills cannot be replaced by AI?
- Emotional Intelligence (EQ) ...
- Critical thinking. ...
- Adaptability and flexibility. ...
- Leadership and social influence. ...
- Creative problem-solving. ...
- Interpersonal skills and negotiation. ...
- Ethical judgement and complex decision-making.
Will pharmacists be replaced by AI?
Although AI is beginning to transform the pharmacy profession, it is unlikely to fully replace pharmacists in the immediate future. The transition will be gradual, with AI augmenting the role of pharmacists and allowing them to focus on more patient-centric activities.
What is the fail rate of robotic surgery?
The rates of device malfunctions and failure-related conversions reported by these studies varied between 0.4–8.0% and 0.1–2.7%, with an average of 3% (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.9–4.2) and 0.9% (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.4–1.4), respectively.
Why are people against robotic surgery?
However, there remains concerns over its cost, longer operating times, and lack of haptic feedback for surgeons [3–5]. Since robots were first implemented into the National Health Service (NHS) in 2001 via the da Vinci (Intuitive Surgical Inc.
What is the trend in robotic surgery in 2024?
2024 was a big year for Robotic Assisted Surgery (RAS). In some branches of surgery RAS is becoming mainstream. Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci has now been used in over 12 million procedures and its latest generation, da Vinci 5, launched this year with more Operating Room (OR) integration than seen before.