Sony’s elite ping-pong robot, Ace, has proven it can hold its own against top-ranked players. The AI-powered articulated robot uses 12 cameras to compete and won three out of five matches against elite athletes in April 2025.

To be competitive at table tennis, a game with a fast-moving ball and tricky spins, Ace’s design includes eight joints for precise control. Two joints manage the paddle's position, two adjust its orientation, while three provide power to deliver shots.

Its vision system comprises nine cameras around the court to track the ball in 3D space, along with three ‘gaze control systems’ that measure the ball’s angular velocity and spin for accurate trajectory calculation. In December 2025 and last month, Ace even managed to defeat professional players.

As AI continues to challenge human capabilities in physical games, this marks a significant step forward. The question now is: can robots truly outperform humans on the table?