SenseTime, the Chinese artificial intelligence company, has introduced a remarkable advancement in its consumer offering, “SenseRobot,” by introducing an interactive AI version of the renowned game of Go. This innovative move by SenseTime not only brings cutting-edge AI technologies to households but also makes the strategic and intellectual game of Go more accessible to a wider audience.

Amidst the challenges imposed by US sanctions, SenseTime debuted a remarkable addition to its consumer offerings with the launch of a Go-playing robot. SenseRobot is specifically designed to engage in the ancient and strategic board game known as Go or Weiqi. Equipped with a robotic arm, a display screen, and a game board, this versatile robot possesses the capability to cater to players of all skill levels, ranging from beginners to professionals.

source: chinadaily.com.cn

This innovative robot showcases SenseTime’s advanced AI capabilities and features a state-of-the-art robotic arm, allowing it to practice and engage in games on a physical game board. With an extensive collection of carefully selected exercises and a comprehensive human-machine game training program spanning 20 difficulty levels, this remarkable robot caters to the needs of both amateur and professional players. Moreover, it offers seamless integration with online Go platforms, enabling users to participate in real-time games with millions of players from around the globe.

However, During a recent launch event in Shanghai, SenseTime CEO, and co-founder, Xu Li, expressed a humble ambition for SenseRobot, stating that its primary objective is to introduce AI technology into numerous households, rather than pushing the boundaries of human cognition like other computer programs.

SenseTime’s AI Go robot is available for pre-sale, with a standard version priced at 3,799 yuan (US$531) and a premium version, including a case and power bank, priced at 4,999 yuan.

What is a ‘GO’ Game?

Go is a timeless abstract strategy board game, originating in ancient China over 2,500 years ago, making it the oldest continuously played board game in history. The objective of the game is to strategically enclose more territory than the opponent. 

The game of Go has become a prominent arena for major tech companies to explore the capabilities of their AI systems. In a significant milestone, Alpha Go, an AI program developed by DeepMind, a subsidiary of Google, made history in 2016 by defeating a human Go world champion, marking a groundbreaking achievement for computer-based gameplay.

Go belongs to the same category as chess, checkers, and Othello, as it is a deterministic strategy game with perfect information, making it a zero-sum game in combinatorial game theory.

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