Robotic systems and AI tools are reshaping the landscape of in vitro fertilisation
From automated embryo selection to direct injection trials, reproductive medicine is entering a new era defined by precision and robotics
Forty-eight years after the birth of Louise Joy Brown, the first person conceived through in vitro fertilisation, millions of babies have since entered the world. While technology has made the procedure safer and more effective, it remains imperfect, costly, and inaccessible to many. Success rates have even shown signs of decline in recent years, leaving scientists to grapple with why healthy-looking embryos often fail to implant. Now, a new wave of automation, artificial intelligence, and robotics is emerging to standardise treatment, reduce human error, and potentially lower costs.
At the forefront of this shift is the development of fully automated systems. Alejandro Chavez-Badiola, founder and chief medical officer at Conceivable, has led the creation of a robotic platform that handles sperm and egg preparation, fertilisation, and embryo selection. By integrating AI tools to rank gametes and embryos, the system aims to perform these tasks in a consistent, standardised manner without fatigue. This approach has already resulted in the birth of at least 19 children, marking a significant milestone for robotic-assisted reproduction.
In parallel, researchers are utilising artificial intelligence to overcome challenges in sperm analysis. A team at Columbia University Medical Center has developed the Sperm Tracking and Recovery (STAR) system, which uses AI to analyse over a million microscope images per hour. This capability allows for the identification of healthy sperm in samples containing very few viable cells, a task that is often difficult for human embryologists. The system successfully created healthy embryos, with the first pregnancy resulting from this method announced in November 2025.
Beyond selection, efforts are underway to improve the implantation process itself. Researchers at the Carlos Simon Foundation in Valencia, Spain, are trialling a device designed to inject embryos directly into the uterine lining. This technology aims to address the mystery of why embryos often fail to stick once inserted into the uterus. However, the trial remains in its early stages, having been performed on fewer than 10 women to date, with no successful pregnancies reported so far.
While automation and robotics offer promise for standardisation, the field is also confronting complex ethical dilemmas surrounding gene editing. Scientists are exploring the use of CRISPR technology to edit embryos and prevent serious single-gene disorders such as cystic fibrosis and sickle-cell disease. Cathy Tie, a former partner of He Jiankui and leader of Origin Genomics, advocates for a legal framework to regulate such technology, arguing it could prevent severe genetic conditions.
Despite the potential benefits, significant hurdles remain. Experts caution that editing embryos for complex diseases is currently unproven and carries risks of off-target effects or unintended consequences. Furthermore, there are growing concerns that such technology could lead to a slippery slope towards genetic enhancement. As the field moves forward, the consensus among many practitioners is that any use of gene editing must occur within a strict legal context and be limited to preventing serious disease.
