By Peter Omopo
A British man has become the first patient in the world to undergo brain surgery with the assistance of live artificial intelligence, with surgeons successfully removing a tumour that threatened his vision.
Rhys Hibbert, a 48-year-old father of two from Bedfordshire, underwent the pioneering procedure at University College London Hospital after doctors determined that his tumour was putting pressure on the optic nerves responsible for his vision.
Surgeons said the operation could have prevented Hibbert from losing his sight and demonstrated the potential of real-time artificial intelligence to support complex neurosurgical procedures.
Hibbert’s medical problems began about 18 months before the operation. Despite previously being fit and healthy and regularly walking two miles during his lunch break, he suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness during one of his walks.
A subsequent brain scan revealed an 11mm non-cancerous tumour growing on his pituitary gland, a small organ located at the base of the skull that produces hormones involved in functions including growth, metabolism and regulation of blood pressure and body temperature.
The tumour was located close to the carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain, as well as the optic nerves. As it grew, it began affecting Hibbert’s peripheral vision, while he also experienced severe fatigue, dizziness and problems with balance.
Hibbert said the condition had taken an emotional and psychological toll on him, although he remained determined to maintain his independence.
“For 18 years of married life I’ve always got out of bed and made my wife a cup of coffee, and I wasn’t going to let this tumour stop that,” he said.
When doctors offered him the opportunity to become the first patient to undergo the procedure using the experimental AI system, Hibbert agreed.
“If patients are not prepared to join research, how can doctors ever learn and how can medicine ever progress?” he said.
AI Acts as a Second Pair of Eyes
The operation involved inserting a thin camera, known as an endoscope, through the nose and into the base of the skull to reach the tumour.
However, the tumour was hidden behind layers of bone and tough membrane and was located close to critical blood vessels and nerves. Identifying the safest route for removing it presented a significant challenge because anatomical structures vary between patients.
Researchers developed an AI system capable of analysing live video from the operation and identifying important anatomical structures in real time.
The technology tracked surgical instruments while highlighting areas where major blood vessels and nerves were most likely to be located. This allowed surgeons to identify areas where it was safer to remove the tumour.
Researchers trained and evaluated the system using hundreds of videos from previous pituitary tumour operations. The vessels and nerves in those recordings were manually identified to help the AI learn to recognise the critical structures.
Professor Hani Marcus, who was involved in the procedure, described the technology as an expert “second pair of eyes” for surgeons.
Unlike many experimental medical AI systems that analyse data retrospectively, the technology operates during surgery, providing information as the procedure unfolds.
The researchers stressed that the AI does not control the operation. Surgeons retain full authority over every decision and can accept or reject its recommendations.
The long-term ambition, according to Professor Marcus, is to develop a system similar to a “ChatGPT for surgeons” that could provide expert guidance during complex procedures whenever clinicians require additional assistance.
The project has been funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and Google, with researchers spending years testing the technology in laboratory settings before applying it in a real operation.
Following the success of the first procedure, the research team is preparing for a larger clinical trial.
‘It’s Given Me My Life Back’
For Hibbert, the outcome has already been transformative.
“When I opened my eyes after the operation it felt like I had got 360-degree vision — I hadn’t seen that clearly for a year,” he said.
Eight weeks after the surgery, he reported continued improvements in his eyesight and said many of the symptoms that had affected him before the procedure had disappeared.
“I also have my energy back, and all of the side effects I was suffering before surgery have gone,” Hibbert said.
“It’s given me my life back.”
The procedure comes as researchers and health authorities continue to explore the potential of artificial intelligence in medicine while stressing the need for appropriate safeguards.
Health Innovation Minister James Frith said the successful procedure demonstrated the potential benefits of government-supported medical research.
“AI needs proper safeguards, and we will always ensure that safety is taken seriously. But we will also ensure we benefit from the opportunities it brings,” he said.
The pioneering operation marks another step in the development of AI-assisted medicine, with researchers now looking to determine whether the technology can safely and reliably support surgeons across a wider range of complex procedures.
