Sony AI builds the first robot to reach expert level in a sport

THE DECODER / 4/23/2026

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Key Points

  • Sony AI says its table tennis robot “Ace” is the first robot to achieve expert-level performance in a sport.
  • The claim positions Ace as a milestone for robotics control and real-world sports interaction rather than a purely lab-based demonstration.
  • Reaching “expert level” suggests improvements in sensing, prediction, and decision-making needed to handle fast, adversarial ball dynamics.
  • The result may influence how robotics researchers and developers view benchmarks for autonomous, skilled physical tasks in dynamic environments.

Sony's table tennis robot "Ace" is the first robot to reach expert-level performance in a sport, according to the company.

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