This is not "amazing" or "incredible." This is broken.

There have been quite a few people passing along this video of a robot that can always win at rock-paper-scissors. What an accomplishment! How mesermizing it is to have technology beat us at a game.

The problem is that the robot isn't playing the game. The game ceases to exist when it is the explicit purpose of the robot.

It's also playing outside the confines of the game. It works by analyzing your hand and responding a few millisecond after. This is a fantastic display of technological adaptability, but it isn't playing rock-paper-scissors.

It doesn't have to weigh options about how the other player will "shoot." It is always responding to an action.

In fact, put two of these robots against each other and you might end up with an endless loop of draws. Or constant re-adjustment trying to make the right decision.

As I wrote above, the fact that a robot does what it's programed to do isn't all that magnificent. The potential should still be celebrated.