Boston Dynamics showcased its Atlas robot's ability to lift and carry a small refrigerator using reinforcement learning. The advancement allows the robot to adapt to various conditions and perform tasks requiring physical intelligence beyond camera-based control.
David Silver, the DeepMind scientist behind AlphaGo's historic 2016 win over Lee Sedol, has raised $1.1 billion to launch Ineffable Intelligence, a startup valued at $5.1 billion that bets on reinforcement learning rather than large language models to achieve superintelligence. The company launched in January 2026.
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.
