Rhys Hibbert, a 48-year-old customer services manager from Bedfordshire, has completed what is believed to be the first brain surgery in which live artificial intelligence provided real-time guidance to surgeons. The procedure took place at University College London Hospital, where surgeons used the AI tool to assist in removing a non-cancerous tumor from his pituitary gland.
Hibbert’s health condition began 18 months ago when he experienced a seizure during a routine walk. Subsequent brain scans identified an 11mm tumor growing on his pituitary gland, a marble-sized organ at the base of the skull responsible for secreting hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, blood pressure, and temperature. As the tumor expanded, it began pressing on Hibbert’s optic nerves, causing progressive narrowing of his peripheral vision and contributing to fatigue and dizziness. The proximity of the tumor to vital carotid arteries and optic nerves made surgical intervention particularly delicate.
The operation employed an endoscope—a thin camera inserted through the nose to reach the base of the skull. The AI system analyzed the live video feed in real time, identifying the locations of blood vessels and nerves while highlighting the safest areas for tumor removal. According to researchers, the technology was trained on hundreds of videos from previous pituitary tumor surgeries and functions similarly to facial recognition software but identifies anatomical structures instead. Surgeons noted that typical practitioners perform 10 to 20 such operations annually, whereas the AI system had been trained on substantially more cases. Standard complication rates for these procedures include a 25–50% chance of incomplete tumor removal and a 0.5–2% chance of major blood vessel injury.
Following the surgery, Hibbert reported significant improvements in his vision and overall health. He described regaining 360-degree vision within hours of waking and noted continued vision improvements in the eight weeks following the procedure. He also reported recovery of his previous energy levels and resolution of prior symptoms. The research team, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and Google, emphasized that the AI functions as an assistive tool while surgeons maintain full operational control. Developers are exploring expansion of the technology toward a broader surgical application platform.
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