Rhys Hibbert Has 11mm Brain Tumor Removed in First Live AI-Assisted Surgery
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 26
Rhys Hibbert Has 11mm Brain Tumor Removed in First Live AI-Assisted Surgery
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 26
Summary
Eight weeks after the operation, 48-year-old Rhys Hibbert said his vision is steadily improving after surgeons removed an 11mm pituitary tumor that had begun pressing on his optic nerves.
The procedure used a real-time AI system that analyzed the endoscope video feed, tracked instruments and highlighted likely hidden blood vessels and nerves to guide the safest route to the tumor.
Surgeons said that matters because pituitary operations can leave 25% to 50% of a tumor behind and carry a 0.5% to 2% risk of injuring a major blood vessel.
University College London Hospital's team said the tool is an assistant, not a replacement for surgeons, and is now preparing a larger trial after years of lab testing backed by public funding and Google.
How will hospitals overcome the massive data bottleneck to make this life-saving surgical AI a standard practice rather than a rare luxury?
Could real-time AI color-coding in the operating room inadvertently deskill future neurosurgeons if the system suddenly fails mid-surgery?
With immediate vision recovery being incredibly rare, did the AI's precision directly trigger this miracle, or was it a fortunate anomaly?
From Breakthrough to Global Adoption: The 2026 UCL AI Brain Surgery and the New Era of Surgical Safety
Overview
In May 2026, surgeons at University College London Hospital used a groundbreaking AI system during a delicate brain surgery to save Rhys Hibbert’s sight. The AI, trained on thousands of surgical videos, analyzed live video feeds in real time, tracking instruments and highlighting hidden blood vessels and nerves. This allowed surgeons to safely remove the tumour pressing on Hibbert’s optic nerves, instantly restoring his vision and ending his fatigue and dizziness. The AI’s color-coded overlays helped surgeons distinguish subtle tissues, showing how advanced technology can enhance safety and outcomes in complex operations.