A robot trained with AI to beat average randos at table tennis is a much more impressive thing than you might think

SoftwareAIA robot trained with AI to beat average randos at table tennis is a much more impressive thing than you might thinkWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

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(Image credit: Google DeepMind)

Two video snapshots of the Google DeepMind AI robot playing table tennis against human opponents

It’s more than just a camera keeping track of the ball and then motors wildly swinging a paddle about. To start things off, Google DeepMind built a database of all the initial states a table tennis ball could have, such as position, speed and spin. From here, the robot arm just practised various movements, getting used to switching between fore- and backhand grips, applying topspin, and so on.

Then it was pitched against real players, with the AI system designed so that would monitor how different people would behave and play, and use that information to refine the overall algorithm. Its success rate was tracked and the selected strategy self-adjusting in real-time accordingly.

Google DeepMind says that the robot played against 29 opponents, ranked into four different skill levels, and after completing all the matches, it came roughly in the middle of them—essentially the same as an “intermediate amateur.”

Meet our AI-powered robot that’s ready to play table tennis. 🤖🏓 It’s the first agent to achieve amateur human level performance in this sport. Here’s how it works. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/AxwbRQwYiBAugust 8, 2024

But even so, it’s still an impressive achievement, and I can think of multiple applications that future versions of the technology could be used for. Mass-manufacturing production lines that use robots for things like painting or welding are brilliant but often struggle to cope with minor mispositions or changes in lighting. An AI system trained to react properly to all of these will help prevent such issues from stalling the production line.

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And I can foresee a time when seriously injured people could be routinely relying on AI-trained robot arms to handle things for them, while they recover and return to full strength and mobility.

For now, though, getting better at table tennis is where it’s at—and I’m 100% on board with that goal. After all, it’s infinitely better than getting better at robotic nuclear armageddon.

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