AI-Powered Humanoid Robots Compete in World’s First Soccer Match

AI-Powered Humanoid Robots Compete in World’s First Soccer Match
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The world’s first fully autonomous 5-v-5 soccer match played by AI-powered humanoid robots has taken place in Beijing, Anadolu Agency reported. The event was a preliminary for the World Humanoid Robot Games, which featured over 500 robots from 280 teams representing 16 countries.

The robots played a 40-minute match without any human control, demonstrating the ability to tackle, pass, shoot, and recover quickly after falling. Each team was composed of two forwards, two defenders, and a goalkeeper. The competition’s 70-page rulebook is similar to human soccer but with some robot-specific adjustments, such as allowing more physical contact between players. A unique rule requires opponents to wait 10 seconds after a free kick, giving the AI time to execute its plays.

The three-day event includes a total of 538 events across 26 sports, including athletics and gymnastics, marking a significant milestone in the development of artificial intelligence and robotics.