SenseTime’s AI Robot "Yuanluobo" Defeats Two Chess Champions

Asianfin — The China-made AI robot "Yuanluobo" recently demonstrated its prowess in a human-machine chess battle, defeating Zhou Yichen, the 15-year-old champion of the National Youth Chess Championship, and Hou Yifan, the youngest female world chess champion and four-time women’s world champion.

Hou Yifan described the match as a meaningful encounter, noting the differences in gameplay between humans and AI. While human players may exhibit nervousness and variability in their strategies, Yuanluobo displayed remarkable stability and precision, making every move with surgical accuracy. Its opening strategy was particularly solid, with intricate mid-game layouts that effectively combined tactics and strategy, earning it the title of "super chess player."

Developed by SenseTime, Yuanluobo is the third AI chess robot following their earlier releases in Xiangqi and Go. Launched during the World Robot Conference in August, it is tailored for household use, marking it as the first international chess robot designed for home environments.

Yuanluobo features a self-developed AI engine, categorizing its skill level into 25 ranks, comparable to the world-renowned chess platform chess.com. It offers diverse functionalities, including AI training exercises, skill challenges, and even a large language model for interactive conversations.

As AI analysis has become an essential part of training for top chess players, Yuanluobo stands out by providing a realistic match experience, assisting players in enhancing their skills through simulation. Currently, Yuanluobo is priced at 4,999 yuan (US$ 712), with a promotional pre-sale price of 4,799 yuan.

Ma Kun, the co-founder of SenseTime and president of Yuanluobo, highlighted the technological advancements that made this robot possible. "Since IBM's Deep Blue defeated a human champion in 1997, no other chess robot has achieved mass production for homes. Yuanluobo fills this market gap with innovative technology,” he said.