AI in the OR: How CMR Surgical and NVIDIA Aim to Remake Robotic Surgery

CAMBRIDGE, UK & SAN JOSE, CA – March 16, 2026 – The operating room of the future may be powered as much by data and artificial intelligence as it is by the skilled hands of a surgeon. In a move that signals a seismic shift for the medical technology industry, Cambridge-based CMR Surgical today announced a landmark collaboration with technology giant NVIDIA, aiming to build the foundation for the next generation of intelligent robotic surgery.

At the heart of the announcement, made during the NVIDIA GTC conference, is CMR Surgical’s role as a key contributor to NVIDIA’s Physical AI initiative for healthcare. The company has provided nearly 500 hours of anonymized surgical data from its Versius Surgical Robotic System—the largest single contribution—to create Open-H, now the world’s largest open dataset for healthcare robotics. This vast library of real-world surgical video and robotic telemetry is designed to train a new class of AI that can understand and interact with the physical world, promising to one day assist surgeons with unprecedented capability.

This partnership moves the concept of robotic surgery beyond simple mechanical assistance and into the realm of cognitive augmentation, where the surgical system itself becomes a data-driven, intelligent partner in patient care.

The New Currency of Surgery: Data and AI

The collaboration is more than a simple data-sharing agreement; it represents the creation of a foundational ecosystem for AI in surgery. The Open-H dataset underpins Isaac GR00T-H, NVIDIA’s new open vision-language-action model for healthcare robotics. In essence, GR00T-H is being developed as a foundational 'brain' that will enable robotic systems to better perceive, interpret, and act within the complex and dynamic environment of an operating room.

Complementing this is NVIDIA Cosmos-H, a simulation engine that can generate physically accurate synthetic surgical data. CMR Surgical is not only contributing real-world data but is also leveraging Cosmos-H to test and validate future AI-driven policies for its Versius platform in a safe, virtual environment. This dual approach—combining real and synthetic data—is designed to accelerate development while upholding the rigorous safety standards essential in medicine.

CMR Surgical’s position as a key partner was no accident. The company designed its Versius system from the ground up as a digitally native platform, capable of capturing a rich stream of data during every procedure.

“Surgical robotics generates a rich understanding of how procedures are performed. By contributing real‑world surgical data to collaborative initiatives like Open‑H, we are helping build the foundations for the next generation of intelligent surgical systems,” commented Chris Fryer, Chief Technology Officer at CMR Surgical. “Because Versius is the most software-driven robot on the market, we were well-placed to share our data with the wider ecosystem. Our focus is on technologies that support surgeons and expand access to minimally invasive surgery.”

A Strategic Play in a High-Stakes Market

The surgical robotics market has long been dominated by Intuitive Surgical and its pioneering da Vinci system, which has an extensive installed base and a decades-long head start. CMR Surgical’s partnership with NVIDIA represents a bold strategic maneuver to challenge this incumbency not just on hardware, but on intelligence. By leveraging NVIDIA's world-class AI infrastructure, the company aims to establish its Versius platform as a leader in the next wave of surgical innovation.

The move signals a broader industry trend where the competitive advantage is shifting from mechanics alone to the sophistication of the software and AI that power the hardware. Notably, other major medical technology firms, including Johnson & Johnson MedTech and Medtronic, are also utilizing NVIDIA's simulation platforms, indicating that the entire sector is racing to integrate AI. However, CMR’s significant contribution to the open dataset positions it as a first-mover and a central player in this new, collaborative ecosystem.

This partnership could redefine what hospitals look for in a robotic system, moving beyond precision and control to include data analytics, workflow assistance, and AI-powered insights as critical purchasing criteria. For CMR Surgical, it is a calculated leap to differentiate its technology and accelerate its mission to make robotic surgery more accessible.

From Simulation to Scalpel: Promise and Prerogatives

The ultimate goal of this technology is to augment the capabilities of human surgeons, not replace them. The vision is for Physical AI to handle routine, repetitive tasks, provide predictive insights based on thousands of previous procedures, and help surgeons navigate complex anatomy with greater confidence. This could lead to more consistent surgical outcomes and increased efficiency in the operating room.

David Niewolny, Head of Business Development for Healthcare and Medical Technology at NVIDIA, emphasized this collaborative vision. “The next generation of surgical robotics will be powered by data, simulation and AI working together,” he said. “By responsibly contributing surgical data and training open models on NVIDIA’s physical AI platform, medical technology leaders like CMR Surgical are accelerating a new generation of intelligent robotic systems that can assist surgeons, scale surgical expertise and ultimately expand access to high-quality care.”

However, the path from the lab to widespread clinical adoption is paved with significant regulatory and ethical challenges. Ensuring patient data privacy, eliminating potential bias from training data, and establishing clear lines of accountability for AI-assisted actions are paramount. Regulatory bodies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are actively developing frameworks for AI/ML-based medical devices, but the technology is evolving at a pace that will continue to test and shape these guidelines.

Democratizing Surgery on a Global Scale

Beyond the technological prowess and market strategy, the most profound impact of this initiative may lie in its potential to address a staggering global health crisis. According to global health studies, an estimated five billion people worldwide lack access to safe and affordable surgical care. High costs, a shortage of trained surgeons, and the complexity of existing technology are significant barriers.

By creating more intelligent, efficient, and potentially more affordable robotic systems, companies like CMR Surgical hope to democratize access to the benefits of minimally invasive surgery. AI-enhanced systems could help shorten the learning curve for surgeons, enable more procedures to be performed, and extend the reach of expert surgical care to underserved regions. As healthcare systems globally grapple with increasing demand and workforce constraints, technologies that can enhance surgeon capabilities and improve efficiency are no longer a luxury, but a necessity.

This collaboration between a surgical innovator and an AI powerhouse marks a pivotal moment. It lays the groundwork for a future where advanced robotics and artificial intelligence work in concert to not only refine the art of surgery but also to make its life-saving benefits more universally accessible for patients everywhere.