Two decades ago, man met machine on the chessboard. An IBM computer called Deep Blue defeated Russian grandmaster Garry Kasparov in the opening match of six. Since then, a new algorithm has triumphed in an even more complicated game. Current State’s Kevin Lavery talks with MSU biologist and computer scientist Arend Hintze about the future of artificial intelligence.
It was 20 years ago today that the computer taught the man to play. On February 10, 1996, Russian grandmaster Garry Kasparov played the first of six chess games against an IBM supercomputer known as Deep Blue. Kasparov lost Game One, though he ultimately won the match. A year later, man faced machine again and this time, Deep Blue emerged victorious.
That initial game in 1996 marked the first time a computer ever defeated a world chess champion in a classical game. Since then, though, artificial intelligence has logged an even bigger victory. Google has developed a program called Alpha Go, which has defeated a champion human Go player. Go is an ancient Chinese game that pre-dates chess, and it’s considered to be much more difficult.
Current State’s Kevin Lavery speaks with Dr. Arend Hintze. He studies AI at Michigan State University.