SenseTime, a Chinese company specializing in artificial intelligence, has unveiled an exciting advancement in its consumer offerings. They have introduced a new product called “SenseRobot,” which is an interactive AI version of the popular game of Go.
This move by SenseTime not only brings cutting-edge AI technology into people’s homes but also makes the strategic game of Go more accessible to a broader audience.
Despite facing challenges due to sanctions imposed by the United States, SenseTime has launched a remarkable addition to its consumer lineup—a robot designed to play Go. Named SenseRobot, this versatile robot is equipped with a robotic arm, a display screen, and a game board. It caters to players of all skill levels, ranging from beginners to professionals, allowing everyone to enjoy the ancient and strategic game of Go.
SenseRobot demonstrates SenseTime’s advanced AI capabilities and features a state-of-the-art robotic arm, enabling physical gameplay on a game board. It offers a comprehensive training program with 20 difficulty levels, including a selection of carefully curated exercises.
This exceptional robot is designed to meet your needs and it seamlessly integrates with online Go platforms, enabling users to engage in real-time games with millions of players worldwide.
During a recent launch event held in Shanghai, SenseTime’s CEO and co-founder, Xu Li, expressed a modest ambition for SenseRobot. He stated that the primary objective of the robot is to introduce AI technology to households, rather than pushing the boundaries of human cognition like other computer programs.
SenseTime’s AI Go robot is currently available for pre-sale, with two versions. The standard version is priced at 3,799 yuan (equivalent to US$531), while the premium version, which includes a case and power bank, is priced at 4,999 yuan.
Go is an ancient abstract strategy board game that originated in China more than 2,500 years ago. It holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously played board game in history. The game’s objective is to strategically control more territory than the opponent.
The game of Go has become a significant arena for major technology companies to explore the capabilities of their AI systems. In 2016, DeepMind, a subsidiary of Google, made history with their AI program, Alpha Go, defeating a human Go world champion. This marked a groundbreaking achievement in computer-based gameplay.
Go belongs to the same category as chess, checkers, and Othello. It falls under the classification of deterministic strategy games with perfect information, making it a zero-sum game in combinatorial game theory.