In a remarkable breakthrough, Google’s DeepMind has created a robot that plays table tennis at a nearly professional level.
This achievement shows how advanced AI has become in mastering complex tasks and competing with humans.
During a recent research project, the DeepMind robot played table tennis against players of different skill levels—beginner, intermediate, advanced, and advanced+.
The robot followed most standard rules but couldn’t serve due to its physical limitations. It played three games against each human player, marking the first time a robot has reached an amateur level in competitive table tennis.
The robot won 45% of the matches and 46% of the games overall.
It defeated all beginners, won 55% of matches against intermediate players, but lost to advanced players.
Participants found the robot enjoyable to play against, though advanced players were able to take advantage of its weaknesses, like handling underspin.
This development not only showcases the progress in AI and robotics but also opens doors for new types of human-robot interactions.
While the robot shines in table tennis now, the technology could be used in various fields, such as sports and manufacturing, as AI continues to advance.