Every time I read something about Google’s driverless cars or robotic surgeons, I’m reminded of the time I looked up NYC weather on the search engine and the logarithm supplied me with a temperature ten degrees too warm. I wore the wrong jacket.

Mild inconveniences can become life-and-death threats when the stakes are raised. If these ghosts in the machines can be worked through, the potential boon to humanity from such AI assistance is great. Though the vow that the operating theater will always be the domain of the carbon-based surgeon seems a promise not ours to make. From David Crow at Financial Times:

Robotic technology has become increasingly common in operating theatres as patients opt for “minimally-invasive” procedures, which allow the surgeon to make smaller incisions that cause less pain and scarring than open operations. Around 3m of these lighter-touch operations are carried out in the US each year.

Google will not develop the systems that control the surgical instruments, but will explore how advanced imaging and sensors could be integrated into J&J’s robots. For example, software could help to highlight blood vessels or nerves that are difficult to see with the naked eye.

Gary Pruden, chairman of J&J’s global surgery group, said the company would work with Google to produce a “much smarter robot that gives ‘informatics’ to surgeons doing critical tasks”.

“Google has the intellectual property and capability to help us make a robot that is much more than just an extension of a surgeon’s eyes and arms. It would give them the information to make decisions . . . right down to where to make the best incision,” he said.

Mr Pruden likened such a robot to a surgical preceptor that observes and guides a less experienced colleague during an operation, although he insisted it “would always be the surgeon that is the decision maker”.

The companies hope the technology will improve the quality of surgery in emerging markets, where the number of inexperienced surgeons results in a higher degree of failure, said Mr Pruden.•