Humanoid robots controlled by surgeons did world-first operation on live pigs

Surgeons at UC San Diego remotely controlled humanoid robots to successfully remove gallbladders from live pigs — a world first. The robots, called "Surgie," are based on Unitree G1 models costing around $67,000, far cheaper than traditional surgical systems like da Vinci, which can cost millions. While promising for remote or underserved areas, challenges like slow latency, frequent recalibration, and limited arm reach still need to be solved before human use.