Jelly plays Pong and gets better at with practice

[Judi Lynn]

August 25, 2024

Imma Perfetto
Cosmos science journalist

A hydrogel has learned to play the 1970s video game “Pong” and improved its ability to hit the ball by 10% with some practice.

Dr Hayashi, a biomedical engineer at the University of Reading in the UK, says: “Our research shows that even very simple materials can exhibit complex, adaptive behaviours typically associated with living systems or sophisticated AI.

“This opens up exciting possibilities for developing new types of ‘smart’ materials that can learn and adapt to their environment.”

The research is described in a paper published in Cell Reports Physical Science.

More:
https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/materials/jelly-plays-pong-and-gets-better-at-with-practice/

[flying_wahini]

1. What an incredible adaptation. Sounds phenomenal and could really be a wild way to

Apply forward thinking to triggering an adaptive response in Robotics and medical uses.
So interesting.

[Kid Berwyn]

2. Dr. Diagoras, I presume.

Stanislaw Lem’s character took a similar approach to A.I.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/88321.Memoirs_of_a_Space_Traveler