WEEK 10 – Artificial Intelligence
We are one step closer to a world with real artificial intelligence. Previously there were AI programs out there that would challenge the human brain in games like chess, go, and various other games. These computer programs were susceptible to the world of poker in that “The computer can’t win at poker if it can’t bluff,” said Frank Pfenning, the head of the computer science department at CMU.” With so many variables and a human factor involved in a game, AI was not evolved enough at the time to challenge the best players in the world and consistently lost over the years. That changed last week and created a milestone for the progression of artificial intelligence.
Libratus, an AI program developed by a team of researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, took on Dong Kim, Jimmy Chou, Daniel McAulay and Jason Les at no-limit Texas Hold’em in a Pittsburgh casino, eventually taking $1.76 million (£1.4 million) in chips. Developing an AI that can do that successfully is a tremendous step forward scientifically and has numerous applications. Imagine that your smartphone will someday be able to negotiate the best price on a new car for you. That’s just the beginning (Sulleyman, 2017).
These algorithms will be able to be used in various other parts of our technological world. This includes cyber warfare, military decision making, operational security risks, and various other digital aspect of modern warfare. To date, this is the most successful artificial intelligence known to man and may be the steppingstone for years to come. This could be the historical turning point in which a computer beat the world’s best poker players and become a legend.
References:
Sulleyman, Aatif., (January, 2017). “AI Victory Over Poker Players Hailed as Milestone as Computer Learns to Successfully Trick Humans.” Retrieved May, 2018 from: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/ai-poker-win-tournament-software-beats-pro-players-victory-a7555791.html
