Watch a Robot AI Beat World-Class Curling Competitors

Artificial intelligence still needs to bridge the "sim-to-real" gap. Deep-learning techniques that are all the rage in AI log superlative performances in mastering cerebral games, including chess and Go, both of which can be played on a computer. But translating simulations to the physical world remains a bigger challenge. A robot named Curly that uses "deep reinforcement learning"--making improvements as it corrects its own errors--came out on top in three of four games against top-ranked human opponents from South Korean teams that included a women's team and a reserve squad for the national wheelchair team. One crucial finding was that the AI system demonstrated its ability to adapt to changing ice conditions.