London neurosurgeons have successfully used artificial intelligence to assist in the removal of a brain tumour in what has been described as the world’s first successful AI-assisted operation of its kind, marking a significant development in the use of advanced technology in highly complex neurosurgery.
The procedure was carried out in May at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN), part of University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The details of the operation were kept confidential while the patient recovered. The patient, 48-year-old Rhys Hibbert from Bedfordshire, had been diagnosed with a tumour on his pituitary gland in 2024. His condition had progressively worsened, causing serious hormonal problems and deterioration in his eyesight. Without treatment, doctors said he was at risk of losing his sight.
The 11mm tumour was located in an extremely delicate area of the brain, close to blood vessels and nerves responsible for vision. During the operation, the surgical team remained fully responsible for the procedure, while an AI-based system analysed live footage from cameras used during the surgery. The technology helped the surgeons identify important anatomical structures in real time, including nerves, blood vessels, surgical instruments and surrounding tissue.
The system uses colour coding to highlight critical structures, allowing surgeons to distinguish areas that need to be protected while operating around the tumour. Such assistance is particularly valuable in pituitary surgery, where vital structures are located within a very small area and even a minor error can result in serious complications, including blindness, stroke or death.
The AI technology had previously been used at the hospital as a research tool, but the May operation represented the first occasion on which it was deployed during an operation on a patient. According to Dr Sophia Bano, an associate professor in robotics and artificial intelligence at University College London and the technical lead for the system, the technology has been trained using hundreds of surgical videos. This gives the system exposure to a wide range of surgical situations and enables it to assist doctors in recognising critical anatomy and interactions between tissues and surgical instruments during an operation.
For Hibbert, the procedure brought a dramatic improvement in his quality of life. He said that when he regained consciousness after the operation, he was able to see the room around him clearly. Within a week, he was able to walk independently without glasses or walking aids. He has since returned to his job as a customer service manager.
The patient also highlighted the historical significance of the hospital where the procedure took place. Founded in 1859, the NHNN is regarded as the world’s first dedicated neurosurgical hospital. Hibbert said he found it fitting that the institution associated with the early development of neurosurgery should also be the site of the first AI-assisted neurosurgical operation.
The pioneering procedure was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research as part of a clinical trial. Prof Mike Lewis, the organisation’s scientific director for innovation, said the operation demonstrated the potential of advanced AI to support surgeons and contribute to better patient care.
The development represents a growing role for artificial intelligence in medicine, particularly in procedures where surgeons must work with extreme precision. Rather than replacing doctors, the technology used in the London operation was designed to provide an additional layer of visual information and support while leaving decision-making and control with the surgical team.
The successful operation could pave the way for further evaluation of AI-assisted systems in neurosurgery and other highly complex procedures. Researchers and clinicians will now be able to assess how such technology performs across a wider range of patients and operations, and whether real-time identification of delicate anatomical structures can make difficult surgeries safer and more precise.
The London procedure therefore represents not only a milestone for artificial intelligence but also a potential new chapter in neurosurgery, where advanced computer systems could increasingly work alongside highly trained surgeons to improve accuracy and patient outcomes.
