Robots Will Surpass Best Human Surgeons in 5 Years: Musk

Elon Musk does not shy away from making bold predictions—such as the imminent arrival of robotaxis or Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)—yet many of these statements have yet to materialize as promised, often missing timelines or falling short of expectations.

Now, he claims robots will surpass the capabilities of a good human surgeon within a few years and will do better than the best surgeons in the world, in just 5 years time.

"Neuralink had to use a robot for the brain-computer electrode insertion, as it was impossible for a human to achieve the required speed and precision," he posted on X.

Musk was commenting on a post that highlights Medtronic’s Hugo robo– which was tested in 137 real surgeries involving prostates, kidneys, and bladders, delivering impressive results.

In those surgeries carried out using robots, complication rates were well below expectations, and it achieved a 98.5% success rate—far surpassing the 85% target.

Moreover, only two procedures required switching to traditional surgery, highlighting Hugo’s strong performance and potential to redefine surgical standards.

However, not everyone is convinced by Musk's claims. A X user pointed out, "Robots are not actually doing the Surgery, the Surgeon is doing it with console using the robot as a sophisticated tool. Surgeon makes every move, robot extends that move, and refines it. They are Great Tools, But Not Surgeons !! I have done more than 2400 robot-assisted surgeries for complex GI diseases . I cannot let Robot to make intricate decisions- since every patient is different!!"

Over the past decade, Musk has repeatedly predicted the imminent arrival of robotaxis, only to delay the timeline each time—so his latest claim should also be taken with skepticism.