[ExI] AI-powered robot beats elite table tennis players

[John Clark]

*The journal Nature published a research article about that table tennis
robot on Tuesday: *

*Outplaying elite table tennis players with an autonomous robot*
<https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10338-5>

*I hope they now concentrate on improving the dexterity of robotic hands, I
want to see a robot that can perform close-up magic card tricks. When that
happens the Singularity will jump into high gear. *

*John K Clark*






On Wed, Apr 22, 2026 at 3:22 PM BillK via extropy-chat <
extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:

> In feat hailed as milestone in robotics, Sony AI’s Ace wins three out
> of five matches played under official rules
> Ian Sample Science editor
> Wed 22 Apr 2026
>
> <
> https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/apr/22/ai-powered-robot-beats-elite-table-tennis-players-milestone-robotics
> >#
> Quote:
> An AI-powered robot has beaten elite players at table tennis in a
> significant achievement for a machine faced with human athletes in a
> real-world competitive sport.
> Named Ace, the robotic system developed by Sony AI, won three out of
> five matches against elite players, but lost the two it played against
> professionals.
>
> The feat has been hailed as a milestone for robotics, a field that has
> long seen table tennis – and the lightning-fast reactions, perception
> and skill it demands – as one of the toughest tests of how far the
> technology has advanced.
> In the matches, played under official competition rules, Ace displayed
> a mastery of spin, handled difficult shots, such as balls catching on
> the net, and pulled off one rapid backspin shot that a professional
> had thought impossible.
> ----------------------
>
> The article includes two short videos of the robot in action.
> Note that it is not a humanoid robot on two legs leaping around the table.
> :)
> But still impressive!
> BillK
>
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