AlphaGo's Conquest Of A GO Master: Sending Shockwaves Around the GO Gamer World

The thrashing of Go Master Lee Sedol was so complete, 4 games to one, the South Korean could scarcely believe it himself.  But it was true and there was no way escaping the fact. The "Deep Mind" machine had bested the human in convincing ways. This, despite the fact that many observers (the games were streamed online to millions) believed AlphaGO had made one or more mistakes. But in the end all the critics were forced to concede that perhaps the machine had used strategies its human masters had overlooked.

The two games that stood out for their oddities were games 4 and 5, given it appeared the machine had made fatal errors. In game 4, a 'tesuji' (brilliant, clever move) by Lee seemed to throw the machine off its game, since the move had not been foreseen. Indeed, its next dozen moves were genuine errors. This indicated at least some weaknesses in the deep learning method used to direct AlphaGO's plays. And coincidentally, this was the only game Lee won.

Game five was a different story in that it showed how difficult it was to consistently exploit the machine's mistakes. Most human observers reckoned the machine had made a serious error early on but not even the GO master Lee was able to capitalize on it - with the AlphaGO clawing its way back into contention and a final win - to the evident despair of Lee.

All of this is of interest since as I had posted about earlier, the game of GO had hitherto been a redoubt of human superiority (as when compared with the ignoble chess defeats of humans such as Gary Kasparov by the likes of IBM's Deep Blue).  There are many reasons including that GO is fiendishly more complex given it has more potential moves than the atoms in the universe,

"Deep learning" has been the difference, whereby the programs-computers are allowed to extract patterns from masses of data including assimilating the moves from human to human games as well as games played with other computers and with itself. The combination has apparently proven too much for any modern GO master to surmount.


And Lee Sedol doesn't appear to be too eager to go up against his machine opponent anytime soon.

See also:

http://venturebeat.com/2016/03/12/go-board-game-champion-lee-sedol-apologizes-for-losing-to-googles-ai/


And:

http://www.wired.com/2016/03/final-game-alphago-lee-sedol-big-deal-humanity/

Mensan Brain Workouts - To Help Couch Potatoes Too!

Mensans, as members of one of the high IQ groups, have a vested interest in preserving their brain power.....not letting it go to seed. Some of us may do this by working on difficult math problems, or playing computer chess or GO, while others employ other forms of brain gymnastics. In the recent Mensa Bulletin (January) a number of members submitted their own recommendations, the activities they do to keep their "most important muscle" from getting atrophied.

Here are some of the more realistic choices which blog readers can also do:


Barbara Pixley:

The best way to keep your mind sharp is to use it! One of the most rewarding ways to do this is to volunteer. I've been a docent at various venues for more than 40 years - at museums and parks.  Not only does the acquisition of new information keep those synapses "synapsing" but sharing it with others is a vital part of the experience as well.


Kent Perkins:

I number ten items and give myself  a minute to memorize the list, and then I let my wife challenge me to recall all the items in a random order. This not only keeps my mind sharp, it keeps me from having to do anything constructive.


G.E. Nordell:

Crossword puzzles. I do them because I like them, but there is some evidence that suggest regular crossword puzzle activity prevents Alzheimers.

Chester Micek:

I wanted to do something to keep sharp so I decided to develop my foreign language skills. Soon, I was studying Spanish while driving in traffic and learning German while using a  stationary bike. I was totally pleased. I had found an intelligent way to enhance an old talent while escaping radio and TV.


Ford Thanheiser

I use my slide rule for doing multiplication and division.


Douglas Stidham:

One thing that really stimulate me is to grab something difficult I do not understand. For example, trying to wrap my mind around quantum physics and learn it well enough to explain it to others - that's learning twice. At age 65, the math and physics keeps me sharp!


Richard Gribbins

I work on financial problems and prospects.


Dr.H. Stanley Jones:

In the evening I enjoy playing a few computer games of hearts and solitaire. I feel this is helping to keep my mind sharp because the computer makes no mistakes and I cannot violate any rule without being challenged.


Chelsea Chester:

I talk to strangers often but avoid small talk or social scripts so I can watch how they adjust to the interaction. Some people get mad or confused and give up, but most people try their best. Everyone in the world knows something I don't and I want to skip straight to that part - without al the other boring stuff.



And Now Some Mensa Wordplay From the Same Issue:

Ambidextrose: The ability to eat sugar equally well with either hand.

Anheuser's Disease: Memory loss caused by excessive drinking.

 Catso: A very fat cat.

Democrazy: A form of government of the fools, by the fools and for the fools.

Hyperbowly: The type of hype generated around the SupreBowl.

Pressert: A Sweet treat before a meal.

Serendopity: When you do something stupid that turns out surprisingly well.

Surrealtor: An unscrupulous agent who tries to sell clients castles in the air.


Mental exercise:

Try to think up a few of your own "snappy snigglets" to create new definitions along the lines of the examples shown. The best ones - submitted via comment- will be published in a future blog post.