Chinese Robot Autonomously Performs Pig Surgery with AI Model

A robot developed by a Chinese organisation successfully performed biliary surgery on a 30-kilogram pig, autonomously completing the procedure using an artificial intelligence model. The experiment, conducted by Shanghai MicroPort MedBot, took place on Dec. 24.

Credit: HANDOUT

The company stated in a post that its Toumai robot, powered by the proprietary Neuron multimodal surgical model, carried out the operation. The MedBot autonomously performed core surgical procedures, including bile duct clamping and cutting.

Credit: HANDOUT

The robot completed 88% of the steps on its initial attempt, followed by real-time adjustments and corrections to finish the surgery. The Neuron AI model, described as the robot’s "brain," is a multimodal action generation model.

This model was trained on 3 billion parameters, including 23,000 surgical video clips. It enabled the surgical robot to simulate senior surgeons' clinical decision-making and optimise surgical strategies based on intraoperative imagery and instrument status.

The experiment marked the first worldwide instance of fully autonomous robotic surgery, signifying a considerable leap from human tele-operations via remote control. Brian Chang, chief medical officer at MedBot, stated, “This milestone shows how large-model artificial intelligence can serve as a powerful tool to support surgeons, improving precision and consistency under expert clinical supervision.”

MedBot emphasised that human surgeons fully supervised the surgery and could have taken over at any time. The organisation also noted that the demonstration does not constitute direct evidence of the system’s safety or efficacy in human clinical applications.

The company cautioned that the results should not be directly extrapolated to human surgical practice. Furthermore, the system has not received regulatory approval for autonomous human surgery in any country or region and has not entered clinical trials involving human subjects.

Shares of Hong Kong-listed MedBot closed down nearly 2% at HK$25.68 on Wednesday. This experiment highlights the tech industry’s pursuit of pioneering AI applications in medical care, from Intuitive Surgical’s Da Vinci system to Chinese tech giants.

Alibaba Group Holding unveiled what it described as the world’s first AI model to detect gastric cancer, even in early stages, in June 2025. This occurred two months after its AI tool for screening pancreatic cancer secured "breakthrough device" designation from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Separately, Tencent Holdings has developed the Aimis medical imaging platform. This platform focuses on cloud-based scientific research and the management of digital medical images.

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• A Chinese robot successfully performed autonomous biliary surgery on a 30-kilogram pig.

• The Toumai robot, developed by Shanghai MicroPort MedBot, used its Neuron AI model for the procedure.

• The robot completed 88% of surgical steps on its first attempt, with subsequent real-time adjustments.

Source: SCMP

We Are Rewind Introduces Curtis Cassette Boombox to North America

We Are Rewind, a French organisation, has launched the Curtis cassette tape sound system in North America. The GB-001 boombox combines a retro aesthetic with modern technology, including Bluetooth 5.4.

Credit: We Are Rewind

The Curtis boombox follows the global success of We Are Rewind’s WE-001 portable cassette player. This new system could fuel a resurgence for cassette tapes, mirroring the vinyl revival.

Credit: We Are Rewind

Cassette tape sales have experienced a mild revival, rising over 400% in the last decade. The Compact Cassette, invented by Philips in 1963, saw widespread popularity throughout the 1970s, '80s, and '90s.

The GB-001 is a stereo device, delivering a wide soundstage through separate left and right channels. These channels play through distinct woofers and tweeters.

Curtis features two woofers for extended bass response and two soft dome tweeters for treble frequencies. It includes a built-in amplifier with an impressive 104W of total output.

We Are Rewind has incorporated special features such as dynamic power control to minimise distortion. A refined equalization circuit ensures a natural sound signature.

The boombox also offers a spatialisation function for a wider, more immersive stereo soundstage. Its design is based on a high-end cassette mechanism with a user-adjustable motor and internal speed regulation.

For recording and playback, the GB-001 supports both Type I and Type II (chrome) cassettes with optimised biasing. An active AC erasing head helps ensure low noise and optimal frequency response for recordings.

Credit: We Are Rewind

The Curtis boombox includes two backlit analog VU meters for monitoring recording levels. It features a microphone input with an adjustable gain level for live recordings.

Beyond its retro look, the player incorporates up-to-date technology. A Bluetooth 5.4 receiver allows for music streaming from smartphones, tablets, or computers.

The boombox is powered by a user-replaceable 14.8V 3000mAH Li-Ion rechargeable battery. It offers approximately 10 hours of battery life in tape mode and 15 hours in auxiliary mode.

An integrated 3.5mm auxiliary input enables connection to almost any audio source, such as a vinyl turntable or FM tuner. Controls include buttons for Bluetooth pairing, power, tape-type selection, bass, treble, and balance.

The Curtis boombox also has an input for an electric guitar, functioning as a portable amplifier. Additionally, it comes with dual wireless microphones for karaoke functionality.

The We Are Rewind GB-001 Cassette Boombox is currently available and priced at USD 579. Its weight is 6.81 kg, with dimensions of 50.6 x 25.1 x 17.9 cm.

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• We Are Rewind has launched the Curtis GB-001 cassette boombox in North America.

• The boombox features a retro design with integrated Bluetooth 5.4 technology.

• It provides stereo sound with 104W total output, supporting Type I and Type II cassettes.

Source: FORBES

Razer Unveils Project Ava AI Gaming Assistant’s Physical Form

Razer has unveiled a new physical hardware device for Project Ava, its real-time AI gaming co-pilot, at CES 2026. This new version aims to make the AI assistant feel more physically present for gamers.

Credit: RAZER

Project Ava functions as a backseat gamer, offering live advice, tips, and commentary directly overlaid on a user’s screen during gameplay. The character, named Kira, provides coaching with a distinct personality and face.

At last year's CES, Razer demonstrated Project Ava as a highly abstract concept, primarily showing lines of code and system diagrams. That earlier demo focused on how the AI processed gameplay data and generated real-time commands.

This year’s iteration focuses on making the AI concept feel less like a backend experiment and more like a tangible presence. The goal is to provide a more engaging and immediate interaction for users.

Credit: RAZER

The new hardware device is cylindrical with a transparent outer shell, displaying a full-body, animated character inside. A camera is mounted at the top of the unit, facing outwards, while the base features a perforated, patterned platform.

This platform gives the animated character a sense of depth. The bottom ring glows in Razer’s signature green colour and is branded with the company’s logo.

Designed to sit next to a laptop or monitor, the device acts as a dedicated display for the AI assistant. This keeps the assistant’s display separate from the main game screen, rather than overlaying content directly onto gameplay.

The demonstrated character is Kira, though other presets include Zane, described as a sharply dressed, extremely large man with a massive snake tattoo running down his arm. Razer stated that these avatars will be customisable, allowing users to create their own from scratch.

The company has also partnered with influencers to offer character likenesses, including esports professional Faker. This suggests Project Ava aims to integrate personality and fandom alongside its utility.

During a demonstration, the environment was very loud, which occasionally hindered the AI’s ability to consistently pick up voice commands. Testers sought advice from Kira on suitable guns and gadgets within the Battlefield 6 loadout customisation screen.

The recommendations provided by Kira were solid for the given circumstances. For example, she suggested using frag grenades over stun grenades for the assault class, which was deemed a correct tactical call.

Beyond gaming, Razer indicates that Project Ava’s capabilities have expanded to include non-gaming tasks. The company states the AI can now offer advice on various assignments, appearing as an on-screen overlay while users work.

In practice, Project Ava is moving towards offering general-purpose assistance, similar to other AI tools, but with a specific gamer branding. There is no specific release date, though Razer aims for a launch sometime this year.

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• Razer has unveiled a physical hardware device for its AI gaming assistant, Project Ava.

• The device is a cylindrical unit with a transparent shell, displaying an animated character and serving as a dedicated screen.

• Project Ava offers real-time advice and commentary during gameplay, with customisable avatars like Kira and Zane, and likenesses from influencers such as esports professional Faker.

Source: MASHABLE