Go champion fails to beat computer for a 2nd time
Print Edition
A COMPUTER beat a South Korean Go grandmaster again yesterday, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in a five-game match that marks a stunning debut for a new style of “intuitive” artificial intelligence (AI).
After shocking the world by defeating Lee Sedol — one of the greatest modern players of the ancient Chinese board game — in the opening match on Wednesday, the Google-developed AlphaGo computer program proved that was no fluke with another victory after a gruelling encounter that lasted more than four hours.
“I am quite speechless. I admit it was a very clear loss on my part,” Lee told reporters after the match, adding he had found “no weakness” in AlphaGo’s performance during his second defeat.
“AlphaGo played a near perfect game today ... I will try my best so that I will win at least one game,” said an ashen-faced Lee, who had earlier predicted he would beat the computer by a “landslide.”
The 33-year-old must prevail in all three remaining matches — tomorrow, Sunday and Tuesday — to win the series that has a cash prize of US$1 million.
AlphaGo’s creators have described Go as the “Mt Everest” of AI, citing the complexity of the game, which requires a degree of creativity and intuition to prevail over an opponent.
True mastery of Go, which has more possible moves than there are atoms in the universe, had long been considered the exclusive province of humans — until now.
AlphaGo first came to prominence with a 5-0 drubbing of European champion Fan Hui last October, but it had been expected to struggle against 33-year-old Lee, who has topped the world rankings for most of the past decade.
The computer uses two sets of “deep neutral networks” that allow it to crunch data in a more human-like fashion — dumping millions of potential moves that human players would instinctively know were pointless.
It also employs algorithms that allow it to learn and improve from experience.
The showdown at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul is being closely watched by AI experts as well as tens of millions of Go fans mostly in East Asia.
The matches are being broadcast live on major TV and cable channels in South Korea, Japan and China.
Lee appeared to struggle early on after AlphaGo made several moves that were “shockingly unconventional,” said Kim Seong-Ryong, a Go commentator and professional player.
“If you conducted a survey of all the 1,300 professional Go players in South Korea, Japan and China, not a single person would have chosen that move,” Kim said after one of the computer’s unexpected plays.
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