10-04-2025
Scientists announce first baby born via robotic sperm injection system
In a groundbreaking advancement for assisted reproduction, a baby has been born following fertilization through a fully automated and digitally controlled intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) system—a first in medical history.
This achievement signifies a major leap in the field of in vitro fertilization (IVF), where automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are rapidly reshaping clinical practices.
In the early stages of ICSI (which was developed in the 1990s and is now a commonly practiced procedure), a trained embryologist would use a needle to inject a single sperm cell into a mature egg.
However, the new system developed by a collaborative team from Conceivable Life Sciences, operating in New York and Guadalajara, Mexico, has taken that process out of human hands. Their AI-powered platform automates all 23 steps of the standard ICSI procedure, offering unmatched accuracy and consistency.
This new ICSI system integrates modern robotics and AI technology to perform the most sensitive tasks in microinjection. With its advanced algorithms, AI controls much more than just the injection. It also uses lasers to precisely immobilize selected sperm cells and guides them into the egg with unparalleled accuracy, well beyond human performance.
The automation of the ICSI process "represents a transformative solution that promises to enhance precision, improve efficiency, and ensure consistent outcomes" through reduced variability and work-related stress on human operators, says Dr Jacques Cohen.
In the case that led to this historic birth, a 40-year-old woman who had previously failed an IVF attempt participated in the study. Five donor eggs were fertilized using the automated ICSI system, while three served as controls for manual ICSI performed by the clinic staff.
The remote-controlled automated procedure from New York and Guadalajara took just under ten minutes per egg. Researchers describe the faster interactive processes as still in experimental stages but predict upcoming refinements will increase speed.
Of the five eggs fertilized with the automated system, four developed normally. A resulting blastocyst, created through remote-controlled injection from 3,700 kilometers away, was frozen and later transferred back into the patient's uterus. The pregnancy proceeded without complication, culminating in the birth of a healthy baby boy.
The AI system had complete automation control over every step of ICSI. However, innovating embryo culture, cryopreservation, and even the selection and injection of sperm had already been automated in many fertility labs previously. Even in these pilot stages, success paves the way for further endeavors with scope for clinical tests and later app-wide implementation.
'With AI,' explained Professor Mendizabal-Ruiz, 'the system autonomously selects sperm and precisely immobolises its midsection with a laser ready for injection - executing this rapid, precise process with a level of accuracy beyond human capability.'
As IVF laboratories continue to integrate automation across embryo assessment, storage, and fertilization, the birth of this child represents a major milestone. It's not only proof that fully automated fertilization is possible but also a glimpse into the future of precision-driven fertility care.
The study has been published in Reproductive BioMedicine Online.
