Famous New York tattoo artist Bang Bang has unveiled a groundbreaking innovation — A.E.R.O. (Artist Enabled Robotic Operator). It is the world’s first robot capable of applying tattoos with surgical precision.

The project was developed in collaboration with the Texas-based tech company Blackdot. According to Bang Bang, A.E.R.O. doesn’t replace the tattoo artist — it becomes an extension of their hand, helping bring their creative vision to perfection.

Before the session begins, the robot:

– scans the skin surface with micron-level accuracy,
– adapts to the body’s contours,
– and only then begins to apply the tattoo.

Tattoo created by A.E.R.O.

The technology is based on machine vision and AI. The artist creates the design, and the robot transfers it to the skin with flawless symmetry, clean lines, and consistent depth. A.E.R.O. is ideal for minimalist tattoos, precise lettering, geometry, and repetitive patterns.

Once activated by the operator, the machine scans the skin and calculates the optimal tattooing surface. Then it begins its work — steady, quiet, and incredibly precise in placing pigment.

According to early users, the procedure feels noticeably gentler than a traditional tattoo, as reported by FoxNews. That’s because the robot doesn’t go as deep into the skin as a human artist typically would, avoiding nerve endings and minimizing pain. A.E.R.O. still uses real needles and real ink — but operates in a fundamentally different way.

For now, the robot is only available at the Bang Bang Tattoo studio in New York. The first tattoos were tested on studio staff, and now the studio is accepting bookings for commercial sessions with a limited set of predesigned tattoos.

Tattoo by the A.E.R.O. robot

Bang Bang and the Blackdot team plan to continue developing the project: improving the interface, making the robot quieter, adding neural network design support, and preparing it for use in studios around the world.

“This is not the end of traditional tattoo art. It’s its evolution. The robot won’t replace the artist — it simply makes possible what used to be impossible,” said Bang Bang in an interview with People.