Sony's AI robot beats pro players

Ace won three out of five matches played under official rules against top-level athletes, showing off sophisticated moves including unusual spins and net-bouncing shots.

Researchers noted that while the robot cannot yet beat the world's absolute best pros, its performance marks a significant step in machine-human interaction.

The system utilizes agentic AI to proactively react to high-speed serves and adjust its strategy in real-time.

This achievement could presage a wide array of future applications for robots in complex, real-world physical environments.