Columbia University researchers have pioneered an AI system called STAR (Sperm Tracking and Recovery) that detects sperm cells in samples previously deemed sterile by human embryologists. The AI, adapted from astrophysics star-detection algorithms, scanned millions of images rapidly, uncovering viable sperm missed by manual examination. This breakthrough led to successful fertilization and an expected pregnancy in December, demonstrating the promise of AI to transform fertility diagnostics and treatment paradigms.