A robot built by Sony has defeated elite human table tennis players in a breakthrough that researchers say could signal a new era for artificial intelligence and robotics in fast-paced physical tasks.
According to Reuters, the autonomous robot player, known as Ace, achieved expert-level performance in competitive table tennis, also called ping pong, while competing in Tokyo.
The system was developed by Sony’s AI research division and is believed to be the first robot to reach that level in a sport requiring split-second decisions, hand-eye coordination and precision movement.
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Ace uses high-speed perception systems, AI-driven control and an advanced robotic body to react to shots and return the ball in real time, the project’s leader said.
Watch robot Ace beat table tennis professionals
Robot Ace set to change the table tennis game
While table tennis robots have existed since 1983, Reuters reported they had not previously been able to consistently challenge highly skilled human opponents. Ace changed that by competing under official rules set by the International Table Tennis Federation, with licensed umpires overseeing matches.
In results published Wednesday, April 22, in the journal Nature, Ace won three of five matches against elite players in April 2025. It also lost two matches against professional-level players, considered the sport’s top tier.
The development comes as companies around the world continue pushing robotics into new territory. Reuters noted that earlier this month, robots in Beijing outran human runners in a half-marathon race.
Researchers said Ace’s success could have future applications in manufacturing and service robotics, where machines must react quickly while operating safely and precisely around people.
Contributing: Reuters
Anthony Thompson is a news reporter for USA TODAY. He can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on Twitter @athompsonABJ
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Robot vs. human. Watch robot beat elite players in ping pong
