The Economist reports on advances in robo-surgery. Sarah Kliff wonders how this will change the industry:
[R]obots are getting better at doing what surgeons do: Making small, precise movements. They’re also, as the Economist notes, starting to do it cheaper. While surgeons may continue to operate robot-assisted devices, a lot of their expertise could plausibly be replaced by a less-costly technology, operated by a less-costly technician. By contrast, robotic replications of primary care doctors’ more diagnostic-based skill set have moved forward at a slower pace. IBM’s new computer-driven diagnostic, powered by the technology behind the Jeopardy!-winning Watson, still remains in pilot tests. Da Vinci devices, meanwhile, have fanned out across the country.
The Dish 