Lump of gel that plays video game Pong is able to improve its scores through memory’

Researchers have discovered that a soft and squidgy water-rich gel is not only able to play the video game Pong but gets better at it over time.

- Nicola Davis

The findings come almost two years after brain cells in a dish were taught how to play that 1970s classic, an outcome the researchers involved said showed "something that resembles intelligence".

The team behind the latest study said they were not claiming their hydrogel was sentient.

"We are claiming that it has memory, and through that memory it can improve in performance by gaining experience," said Dr Vincent Strong, from the University of Reading, and first author of the research. He said the work could offer a simpler way to develop algorithms for neural networks models that underpin AI systems including Chat GPT. He noted that at present they were based on how biological structures worked.

Released in 1972 Pong was one of the first video games and has a simple premise: two paddles on a court can be moved up and down to hit a ball back and forth between them. The longer the rally, the higher the score.