This company’s surgical robots already use AI, and the future could be even more exciting.
Essentially, artificial intelligence (AI) is just a complex computer program that uses data to inform its decision-making process. You basically have to train him. If you are looking for data on the very complex process of performing a surgical procedure, Intuitive surgical (ISRG 0.57%) would be a good starting point. But the story is not limited to company data.
What does Intuitive Surgical do?
Intuitive Surgical manufactures the Da Vinci surgical robot. It has been manufacturing Da Vinci systems for a very long time, ending the year 2025 with over 11,106 of these high-tech systems. medical devices installed worldwide. This represents 12% more Da Vinci systems than at the end of 2024. However, the number of surgical procedures performed using a Da Vinci robot increased by 18% year over year.
Image source: Getty Images.
Very clearly, there is strong demand in the health sector for robots and for robot-assisted surgery. Notably, in late 2025, the FDA approved Intuitive Surgical’s AI-based enhancement for its Ion endoluminal system. It’s obviously complex, but the addition of AI helps surgeons make real-time decisions in situations where a patient’s lung has moved. The lungs are always moving because humans must breathe to live, which makes this an interesting feature.
What does the future look like?
This type of advancement is likely just the beginning of the AI revolution in robotic surgery. From artificial intelligence learns by looking at data, Intuitive Surgical’s database of surgeries performed is a veritable gold mine. And this figure continues to grow as more and more surgical procedures are performed with Da Vinci systems.
Today’s change
(-0.57%) $-3:00
Current price
$522.04
Key Data Points
Market capitalization
$185 billion
Daily scope
$520.24 -$529.36
52 week range
$425.00 -$609.08
Volume
1.9M
Average flight
1.8M
Gross margin
70.56%
The logical end point is that the AI actually performs surgery on its own. This wouldn’t be a big step forward from where Intuitive Surgical is currently. With a database of surgeries to work from, an AI system could upload relevant information about a particular patient to its system. The AI could then go to work, performing the appropriate surgical procedure and adjusting it as necessary, using variations in the database to guide it through real-time events specific to each patient. This would mean that world-class care could be provided anywhere in the world, at any time of the day or night.
What could Intuitive Surgical do with its data?
There are different ways to use this essential surgical data. Intuitive Surgical may retain the data and use it exclusively. The company could sell the data, helping to advance AI surgery more broadly. Or Intuitive Surgical could be swallowed up by a technology company who wants the data.
That said, Intuitive Surgical stock is expensive today, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 66. But for the more aggressive growth investorsthe AI opportunity could be worth the high price.