<strong>ROUND ONE: RUBIK'S CUBE</strong><br /><br />A robot has <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2014%2F03%2F17%2Ftech%2Finnovation%2Flego-robot-rubiks-cube%2F">smashed the world record for solving a Rubik's Cube</a> in the fastest time of 3.25 seconds. The menacingly named "Cubestormer III" annihilated Dutchman Mats Valk's human record of 5.55 seconds -- not bad considering it's made from Lego and has a mobile phone for a brain.<br /><br />Ok, so the brainy bot comes out on top this time. But are they really that much smarter than us? Roll up your sleeves (and adjust your keyboards) for some of the nerdiest competitions of all time...<br /><br />This one goes to the "Cubestormer."<br /><br /><strong><em>SCORE: Machine 1, Man 0</em></strong><br /><br /><br /><em>By Sheena McKenzie and Matt Ponsford</em><br /><br />[Images: Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty Images; Courtesy ARM]
Man vs Machine —
ROUND ONE: RUBIK'S CUBE

A robot has smashed the world record for solving a Rubik's Cube in the fastest time of 3.25 seconds. The menacingly named "Cubestormer III" annihilated Dutchman Mats Valk's human record of 5.55 seconds -- not bad considering it's made from Lego and has a mobile phone for a brain.

Ok, so the brainy bot comes out on top this time. But are they really that much smarter than us? Roll up your sleeves (and adjust your keyboards) for some of the nerdiest competitions of all time...

This one goes to the "Cubestormer."

SCORE: Machine 1, Man 0


By Sheena McKenzie and Matt Ponsford

[Images: Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty Images; Courtesy ARM]
<strong>ROUND TWO: CHESS</strong><br /><br />You've got to feel for chess grandmaster <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kasparov.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Garry Kasparov</a>. The Russian was ranked World Number One pretty much throughout his entire career -- from 1984 to 2006.<br /><br />And yet the only thing anyone ever seems to remember is when he competed against IBM computer <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FDeep_Blue_%28chess_computer%29" target="_blank" target="_blank">"Deep Blue" </a>in 1997 -- and lost. I mean give the guy a break, he won against the computer the year before.<br /><br />So let's call this one a draw.<br /><br /><strong><em>SCORE: Machine 2, Man 1</em></strong><br /><br />[Images: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images/File]
Man vs Machine —
ROUND TWO: CHESS

You've got to feel for chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov. The Russian was ranked World Number One pretty much throughout his entire career -- from 1984 to 2006.

And yet the only thing anyone ever seems to remember is when he competed against IBM computer "Deep Blue" in 1997 -- and lost. I mean give the guy a break, he won against the computer the year before.

So let's call this one a draw.

SCORE: Machine 2, Man 1

[Images: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images/File]
[Images: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images/File]
<strong>ROUND THREE: WINE TASTING</strong><br /><br />Meet Japan's <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbc.co.uk%2F1%2Fhi%2Ftechnology%2F5312220.stm" target="_blank" target="_blank">"Sommelier Robot," </a>the nifty know-it-all which can tell you the brand of wine you're drinking and what it tastes like --simply by pointing infrared rays at the liquid.<br /><br />Sure, its cute little bow tie is a nice touch. But can it regale you with drunken dinner party conversation long after your last guests have gone home? <br /><br />This one goes to humans.<br /><br /><strong><em>SCORE: Machine 2, Man 2</em></strong><br /><br />[Images: Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images/File; Akihiro I/Getty Images/File]
Man vs Machine —
ROUND THREE: WINE TASTING

Meet Japan's "Sommelier Robot," the nifty know-it-all which can tell you the brand of wine you're drinking and what it tastes like --simply by pointing infrared rays at the liquid.

Sure, its cute little bow tie is a nice touch. But can it regale you with drunken dinner party conversation long after your last guests have gone home?

This one goes to humans.

SCORE: Machine 2, Man 2

[Images: Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images/File; Akihiro I/Getty Images/File]
[Images: Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images/File; Akihiro I/Getty Images/File]
<strong>ROUND FOUR: JEOPARDY</strong><br /><br />"I was pretty confident that I was going to win," <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.ted.com%2F2013%2F04%2F05%2Fhow-did-supercomputer-watson-beat-jeopardy-champion-ken-jennings-experts-discuss%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">said Jeopardy's most winning contestant Ken Jennings</a>, about taking on IBM's supercomputer, called "Watson," in 2011.<br /><br />"People don't realize how tough it is to write that kind of program that can read a clue in a natural language like English — to understand the puns, the red herrings, to unpack just the meaning of the clue. I thought, 'Yes I will come destroy the computer.'"<br /><br />Only, he didn't. This round goes to computers.<br /><br /><strong><em>SCORE: Machine 3, Man 2</em></strong><br /><br />[Images: Ben Hider/Getty Images/File]
Man vS Machine —
ROUND FOUR: JEOPARDY

"I was pretty confident that I was going to win," said Jeopardy's most winning contestant Ken Jennings, about taking on IBM's supercomputer, called "Watson," in 2011.

"People don't realize how tough it is to write that kind of program that can read a clue in a natural language like English — to understand the puns, the red herrings, to unpack just the meaning of the clue. I thought, 'Yes I will come destroy the computer.'"

Only, he didn't. This round goes to computers.

SCORE: Machine 3, Man 2

[Images: Ben Hider/Getty Images/File]
<strong>ROUND FIVE: GYMNASTICS</strong><br /><br />Apart from its catchy name,<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.engadget.com%2F2006%2F10%2F23%2Fthe-rb2000-robot-gymnast-the-next-step-to-real-robot-olympics%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank"> "RB2000"</a> can swing 360-degrees on a crossbar, do pull-ups, and perform cartwheels almost like it was a real gymnast. <br /><br />Yes, robotics has come a long way since this clever critter was unveiled in 2006, with even the most basic home-made machines now <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.engadget.com%2F2006%2F10%2F23%2Fthe-rb2000-robot-gymnast-the-next-step-to-real-robot-olympics%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">nailing quadruple backflips</a> with pinpoint accuracy. But isn't part of the joy of watching gymnastics, in marveling at the human body -- and wincing in sympathy when it all goes horribly wrong?<br /><br />This one goes to the people.<br /><br /><strong><em>SCORE: Machine 3, Man 3</em></strong><br /><br />[Images: Adam Pretty/Getty Images; Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images]
Man vS Machine —
ROUND FIVE: GYMNASTICS

Apart from its catchy name, "RB2000" can swing 360-degrees on a crossbar, do pull-ups, and perform cartwheels almost like it was a real gymnast.

Yes, robotics has come a long way since this clever critter was unveiled in 2006, with even the most basic home-made machines now nailing quadruple backflips with pinpoint accuracy. But isn't part of the joy of watching gymnastics, in marveling at the human body -- and wincing in sympathy when it all goes horribly wrong?

This one goes to the people.

SCORE: Machine 3, Man 3

[Images: Adam Pretty/Getty Images; Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images]
<strong>ROUND SIX: ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS</strong><br /><br />This machine doesn't even have proper hands and it can still beat us at "Rock, Paper, Scissors," every single time. <br /><br />The<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsituationroom.blogs.cnn.com%2F2012%2F06%2F28%2Frock-paper-scissors-robot-cheats%2F"> "Janken"</a> robot -- named after the Japanese word for the popular children's game -- has an inbuilt camera which recognizes the shape its opponent's hand is making within 1 millisecond, and chooses the gesture that trumps it.<br /><br />You just can't beat this bot.<br /><br /><strong><em>SCORE: Machine 4, Man 3 </em></strong><br /><br />[Images: Mark Nolan/Getty Images/File; Courtesy Ishikawa Oku Laboratory]
Man vs Machine —
ROUND SIX: ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS

This machine doesn't even have proper hands and it can still beat us at "Rock, Paper, Scissors," every single time.

The "Janken" robot -- named after the Japanese word for the popular children's game -- has an inbuilt camera which recognizes the shape its opponent's hand is making within 1 millisecond, and chooses the gesture that trumps it.

You just can't beat this bot.

SCORE: Machine 4, Man 3

[Images: Mark Nolan/Getty Images/File; Courtesy Ishikawa Oku Laboratory]
<strong>ROUND SEVEN: FOOTBALL</strong><br /><br />Introducing <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.robocup2013.org%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">RoboCup</a>, an annual competition pitting thousands of machines against each other on the pitch, from laboratories across the world. <br /><br />These slow and unsteady humanoids hardly compare with the sporting skills of <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fifa.com%2Fballondor%2Fnews%2Fnewsid%3D2260390%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or player of the year</a>, Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured left). But be warned, the robot team is hoping to beat FIFA's world champions by 2050. <br /><br />Humans win this round. For now.<br /><br /><strong><em>SCORE: Machine 4, Man 4</em></strong><br /><br />[Images: Josep Lago/AFP/Getty Images/File; Jens Schlueter/Getty Images/File]
Man vs Machine —
ROUND SEVEN: FOOTBALL

Introducing RoboCup, an annual competition pitting thousands of machines against each other on the pitch, from laboratories across the world.

These slow and unsteady humanoids hardly compare with the sporting skills of 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or player of the year, Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured left). But be warned, the robot team is hoping to beat FIFA's world champions by 2050.

Humans win this round. For now.

SCORE: Machine 4, Man 4

[Images: Josep Lago/AFP/Getty Images/File; Jens Schlueter/Getty Images/File]
<strong>ROUND EIGHT: RUNNING</strong><br /><br />Seeing the<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DchPanW0QWhA" target="_blank" target="_blank"> "Cheetah" </a>robot in action is a bit like witnessing a small, headless animal from a futuristic nightmare. Running at 28.3 miles per hour (45.54 kilometers per hour), the speedy machine was designed by Boston Dynamics, which also contracts for the U.S. military.<br /><br />It's also faster than six-time Olympic gold medalist and Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, whose top speed is 27.78mph (44.7km/h).<br /><br />This round goes to the "Cheetah."<br /><br /><strong><em>SCORE: Machine 5, Man 4</em></strong><br /><br />[Images: Ian Walton/Getty Images; Courtesy Boston Dynamics]
Man vs Machine —
ROUND EIGHT: RUNNING

Seeing the "Cheetah" robot in action is a bit like witnessing a small, headless animal from a futuristic nightmare. Running at 28.3 miles per hour (45.54 kilometers per hour), the speedy machine was designed by Boston Dynamics, which also contracts for the U.S. military.

It's also faster than six-time Olympic gold medalist and Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, whose top speed is 27.78mph (44.7km/h).

This round goes to the "Cheetah."

SCORE: Machine 5, Man 4

[Images: Ian Walton/Getty Images; Courtesy Boston Dynamics]
<strong>ROUND NINE: DANCING</strong><br /><br />Swedish pop star <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wired.co.uk%2Fnews%2Farchive%2F2014-03%2F11%2Frobyn-robot" target="_blank" target="_blank">Robyn</a> is a big fan of robots. So much so that she helped a group of science students create a machine in her image -- called none other than <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dazn6nt_z-UM" target="_blank" target="_blank">"Robyt."</a><br /><br />The bot -- which is made of moped motors and 3D printed parts -- listens to Robyn's songs and <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DCcNo07Xp8aQ" target="_blank" target="_blank">dances on its own</a>. It's impressive, but it still doesn't quite beat the real thing.<br /><br />When it comes to dancing, humans still come out on top.<br /><br /><strong><em>SCORE: Machine 5, Man 5</em></strong><br /><br />[Images: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for LOGO; Courtesy KTH Royal Institute of Technology]
Man vs Machine —
ROUND NINE: DANCING

Swedish pop star Robyn is a big fan of robots. So much so that she helped a group of science students create a machine in her image -- called none other than "Robyt."

The bot -- which is made of moped motors and 3D printed parts -- listens to Robyn's songs and dances on its own. It's impressive, but it still doesn't quite beat the real thing.

When it comes to dancing, humans still come out on top.

SCORE: Machine 5, Man 5

[Images: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for LOGO; Courtesy KTH Royal Institute of Technology]
<strong>ROUND TEN: GUITAR PLAYING</strong><br /><br />The <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2014%2F03%2F14%2Ftech%2Fmeet-the-robot-guitarist%2Findex.html%3Firef%3Dallsearch">robot guitarist</a> on the right has 78 fingers, 12 picks, and can play one note every 8 milliseconds.<br /><br />The one on the left is Jimi Hendrix. It doesn't matter how skilled a musician you are, nothing beats charisma.<br /><br />This one is Jimi's.<br /><br /><strong><em>SCORE: Machine 5, Man 6</em></strong><br /><br />[Images: Hulton Archive/Getty Images; Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images]
Man vs Machine —
ROUND TEN: GUITAR PLAYING

The robot guitarist on the right has 78 fingers, 12 picks, and can play one note every 8 milliseconds.

The one on the left is Jimi Hendrix. It doesn't matter how skilled a musician you are, nothing beats charisma.

This one is Jimi's.

SCORE: Machine 5, Man 6

[Images: Hulton Archive/Getty Images; Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images]
<strong>ROUND ELEVEN: PING PONG</strong><br /><br />It doesn't get more dramatic than German table tennis champion Timo Boll taking on a robotic arm in <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftime.com%2F20506%2Fwatch-this-guy-beat-a-robot-at-ping-pong%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">this commercial</a> for engineering company KUKA, coming back from 6-0 to beat the machine which even seems a little sad to lose.<br /><br />Ok, so this is a fairly rigged battle. But the human still won. And as long as we keep creating the machines ourselves, we can make sure it stays that way.<br /><br />Or can we?<br /><br /><strong><em>FINAL SCORE: Machines 5, Man 7. MAN WINS!</em></strong><br /><br />[Images: Courtesy KUKA Roboter GmbH]
Man vs Machine —
ROUND ELEVEN: PING PONG

It doesn't get more dramatic than German table tennis champion Timo Boll taking on a robotic arm in this commercial for engineering company KUKA, coming back from 6-0 to beat the machine which even seems a little sad to lose.

Ok, so this is a fairly rigged battle. But the human still won. And as long as we keep creating the machines ourselves, we can make sure it stays that way.

Or can we?

FINAL SCORE: Machines 5, Man 7. MAN WINS!

[Images: Courtesy KUKA Roboter GmbH]
[Images: Courtesy KUKA Roboter GmbH]