Zimmer Biomet Bets on AI to Redefine Surgery

Zimmer Biomet’s Monogram merger signals a new era of AI-powered robotic surgery

11 Nov 2025

A quiet revolution is stirring in operating theatres. Zimmer Biomet’s purchase of Monogram Technologies, valued at about $177m with contingent rights of up to $12.37 per share, marks a decisive step toward what the firm calls “smart surgery”. It is less a deal than a declaration that the future of orthopaedics will be shaped by data and machines as much as by scalpels and surgeons.

Monogram’s robotic knee system, cleared by America’s Food and Drug Administration in March, pairs artificial intelligence with 3D imaging to guide instruments with remarkable precision. Combined with Zimmer Biomet’s own ROSA robotics platform, the technology promises not merely assistance but, in time, semi-autonomous surgical performance. The aim is faster procedures, fewer complications and more connected operating rooms.

“This acquisition positions us to deliver smarter and more efficient operating environments,” says Ivan Tornos, Zimmer Biomet’s chief executive. The move also challenges Stryker, whose Mako robot currently dominates the field. Analysts see a contest over who can define the next standard in digital orthopaedics.

Yet the path to automation is not frictionless. Regulatory reviews, surgeon training and system integration will take years. Hospitals, meanwhile, face cost pressures even as they race to adopt robotics to improve outcomes. For now, algorithms can only augment human skill, not replace it.

Still, the direction is clear. The global market for surgical robots is expanding rapidly, driven by ageing populations and demands for precision. Zimmer Biomet’s bet on Monogram exemplifies a broader trend: the merging of hardware, software and surgical expertise into unified systems. Smart surgery, once a futuristic notion, is becoming practical reality. The question is not whether machines will assist surgeons, but how much autonomy the scalpel will be allowed.