Sony AI Project Ace robot defeats professional table tennis experts - Technetbook

Sony AI announced Project Ace, a robotic system that defeated top university and professional table tennis players, as reported by Technetbook on April 26, 2026. The robot uses advanced perception to track ball movement and assess spin angles. This represents a research milestone for Sony AI's work in robotics and machine learning.

Project Ace's vision system combines high-speed cameras and machine learning to predict ball trajectory and spin in real time, enabling coordinated movement and swing decisions. The robot was tested against players of varying skill levels and competitively performed well.

The achievement is notable for bridging AI decision-making and physical action in dynamic, fast-paced environments. However, the system is specialized and not designed for general-purpose tasks. Sony AI released a curated highlight video showing certain player defeats in promotional footage.