This year, an amateur Go player was triumphant in their game against an AI system renowned for its prowess, according to Engadget. The success was due to a technique created with the assistance of software developed to investigate Go systems such as KataGo. This is only one part of the revival of Go, which has seen human players become more inventive since AlphaGO's famous win in 2016.
(Photo : by STR/AFP via Getty Images)
China's 19-year-old Go player Ke Jie prepares to make a move during the final match against Google's artificial intelligence programme AlphaGo in Wuzhen, in eastern China's Zhejiang province on May 27, 2017
In a recent study, researchers from the City University of Hong Kong and Yale analyzed a dataset of over 5.8 million Go moves made by professional players between 1950 and 2021. Using a "superhuman" Go AI, a program that can play the game and measure the quality of a single move, they created a statistic called the "Decision Quality Index" (DQI). This analysis revealed that human Go players have become less predictable over time.
The team observed that prior to 2016, the quality of professional gameplay advanced only slightly annually, with the median DQI change amounting to a meager 0.2. In certain years, it even declined. However, the emergence of superhuman AI in 2018 caused the median DQI to surge, with the rate of change surpassing 0.7. At the same time, players began to rely on more inventive strategies during their games, with the proportion of original combinations increasing from 63% in 2015 to 88% in 2018.
Also read: Google DeepMind Challenge: AlphaGo 2, Human Champion 0
The Rise of Technology
The success of amateur Go players against AI systems has further reinforced this trend. With access to powerful software, they have developed a variety of techniques that can be used to outwit these programs and gain an advantage in their games. Furthermore, with more people playing Go than ever before due to its newfound popularity, this influx of creativity will likely continue for years to come.
The success against AlphaGO was just one example of how these tools are helping humans stay competitive even as AI systems become increasingly powerful at playing games such as Go or chess. With access to this kind of technology, amateur players could potentially reach new heights in terms of skill level if they use it correctly - something that may help revive interest in the ancient board game among younger generations who might otherwise find traditional play too slow or boring compared with modern video games.
Moreover, this newfound interest in Go has led to a surge in online tournaments and leagues around the world - allowing amateurs to test their skills against professionals on a level playing field. With access to tools like AlphaGo Zero, these competitors can use advanced tactics without needing years of practice before competing at high levels; instead allowing them to hone their craft quickly while still having fun along the way.
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