Sony develops AI robot capable of competing with professional table tennis players

Researchers at Sony AI have developed a table tennis robot named Ace, capable of competing against and occasionally defeating professional players. The study, published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, details how the robot uses a robotic arm with eight joints to execute complex maneuvers. Ace is equipped with nine cameras that track the ball's trajectory and analyze its rotation by identifying the logo on the ball. Training was conducted using reinforcement learning, allowing the system to improve through experience rather than hard programming. Tests were performed on an Olympic-standard table at Sony's Tokyo headquarters to ensure fair competitive conditions. Sony claims this is the first time a robot has reached an elite level in a common competitive physical sport. Researchers Peter Wurman and Michael Spranger noted that high-speed adaptation in unpredictable environments remains a significant challenge in robotics. Professionals who participated in the trials reported being impressed by the robot's performance.