Neurosurgeons at London’s National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery successfully used artificial intelligence during surgery to remove a pituitary gland tumour from 48-year-old Rhys Hibbert. The operation was performed in May and disclosed on Thursday. Hibbert’s vision had progressively deteriorated because of the tumour, which was diagnosed in 2024, and he had feared becoming nearly blind. His eyesight returned after surgery, and he recovered quickly enough to return to work.

The AI system analysed live camera images from inside the brain during the operation. It identified critical nerves, blood vessels and other sensitive structures, marking them in different colours for surgeons. This gave the surgical team clearer guidance on where instruments could be used safely and which areas needed to be avoided.

The technology was developed under the leadership of UCL robotics and AI specialist Dr Sofia Bano and trained using hundreds of surgical videos. It had previously been used for research, but this was its first direct use in patient treatment. The procedure was part of a clinical trial funded by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research, while surgeons retained control of all key decisions.