Sony's Table Tennis Robot 'Ace' Uses AI and Reinforcement Learning to Compete at Human Level

Sony has developed a table tennis robot called Ace that uses AI and a network of cameras to compete against professional players. The robot learned through reinforcement learning rather than fixed programming, allowing it to adapt during rallies and serve under official rules. Tested on a full-size court in Tokyo and described in Nature, Ace can read the logo on the ball to gauge spin and react within split seconds. While its physical reach and pace are kept close to human levels, its vision and consistency stand out.