Google is doing a lot of development in "artificial intelligence" (computer cognition) that I think makes a great fit for this field. They are the leaders in creating self-driving cars (a simple Google search will provide one with videos), and this, I believe is a natural extension of the technology.
As soon as the haptics question is resolved in a reliable way, I think we will be seeing actual robotic surgery, from scanning, diagnosing, and control of the robotic arms.
Consider: the self driving car must cope with a large number of uncertain variables (dogs and children, traffic, weather conditions, etc...). The human body, although complex, if a much more contained environment in which to operate, and variances between individuals tends to be quite low or highly predictable based on measurable and predictable factors.
That's why I think Google is involved.
Cheers!