An informative 6 MINUTE READ via our friends at Share America.

August, 2026- Today, undergoing surgery is less risky than it was a generation ago. U.S. advances in medical robotics are dramatically improving surgical precision, enabling minimally invasive procedures that reduce complication rates and patient recovery times.

What Is Precision Medicine?

Combining artificial intelligence with medical robotics is further aiding the shift toward precision medicine. With AI-enhanced robotics tools, doctors are diagnosing diseases earlier and tailoring treatments to their patients’ genetics. These medical advances require a secure flow of critical minerals to make the semiconductors and microchips that power new tools.

Through the Pax Silica initiative, the U.S. State Department works with international partners to secure supply chains and enable continued technological progress and mutual prosperity amid the AI revolution. Pax Silica priorities include working with partners to prevent advanced technologies designed for healthcare from being misused. The State Department is also piloting a “concierge” service to streamline partners’ access to American-made AI products.

Here are several surgical robotics tools developed in the U.S. that are benefiting patients around the world.

Smaller incisions, less trauma

California-based Intuitive Surgical Incorporated’s da Vinci robotic surgical system has been used in 20 million procedures  since its launch in 2000. Updated models bring surgeons greater control, enabling operations through smaller incisions. The da Vinci 5’s AI tools help surgeons feel resistance and tension, so they can moderate force, reducing trauma. Plus, the system provides real-time data analysis during surgery.

The da Vinci 5 “has changed how I take care of patients,” says Dr. Marc Bailey , a cardiothoracic surgeon at St. Joseph’s/Candler Hospital in Savannah, Georgia. “Robotic surgery has always allowed for smaller incisions and less blood loss, and we can get you walking around faster, with less pain.”

The Miniaturized In Vivo Robotic Assistant MIRA™ Surgical System is designed to expand access to robotic surgery, according to the Virtual Incision Corporation based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Used in intestinal and other surgeries, MIRA is lightweight (2 pounds, less than 1 kilogram), allowing hospitals to move the device between operating rooms, reducing lengthy setup times.

Virtual Incision says future uses of MIRA will incorporate AI to inform decision-making and enable remote surgeries. In 2024, Virtual Incision and NASA tested the device’s remote-surgery capabilities  at the International Space Station using data sent by satellite.

Early detection, better outcomes

Intuitive’s Ion robotic bronchoscopy system assists with minimally invasive lung biopsies that can detect early-stage cancers, improving patient outcomes. The robotic-assisted tool, initially released in 2019, added AI-powered navigation  and rerouting capability in 2025 that can anticipate how a lung nodule may shift over time.

Ion’s AI-powered detection tools compare live images against the surgical plan, acting like a GPS navigation system that allows doctors to alter the course of surgery as needed. As of June 2025, there were 900 Ion systems at hospitals across 10 countries.

Real-time data, safer procedures

The Mako robotic arm, designed by the Michigan-based Stryker corporation, uses AI technology to assist doctors  performing knee and hip replacement surgeries. Mako’s patient-specific, preoperative planning and feedback help surgeons adhere to preoperation plans, while other data analysis protects healthy bone.

The device also enables precise alignment of artificial knees and hips to improve joint stability and extend the lifespan of implants.

For the Silo, Lauren Monsen.