Is AlphaGo unstoppable? It felt like it today, as Google鈥檚 artificial intelligence crushed the best that humanity has to offer in Go. It wasn鈥檛 even close.
After yesterday鈥檚 historic round one loss, it may have been a restless night for legendary player Lee Sedol. Lee arrived in the arena noticeably worn, his eyes blinking.
He seemed to eke out an early advantage in game two, but AlphaGo seized control of the board as the game wore on, making a series of incisive yet unorthodox moves.
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The software flashed its cold, calculating nature towards the end of the game when it seemed to make a mistake, allowing Lee to capture several stones. Lee blinked in disbelief as he recounted the board. But it was false hope: AlphaGo didn鈥檛 care about the gap 鈥� it makes whichever move will maximise its chances of winning, regardless of the margin.
Hard, cold intelligence
Commentators were stunned as the reality set in. 鈥淕oodness gracious,鈥� said Andrew Jackson of the American Go Association, in a . 鈥淗ow could this happen?鈥� sighed his broadcast partner, Go professional Myungwan Kim. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 believe this.鈥�
Lee鈥檚 second loss is made more crushing because, aside from one slightly questionable move midgame, nobody could point to a crucial mistake from the human. 鈥淗e might have a tough time even winning one game now,鈥� said Kim.
Watch the best human player take on the mighty AlphaGo AI at Go
In the minutes after today鈥檚 match ended, Jackson said AlphaGo鈥檚 flawless play left him in shock. 鈥淭hings that looked questionable in hindsight turned out to be correct. That鈥檚 its hallmark.鈥�
At yesterday鈥檚 post-game press conference, Lee looked shell-shocked. Today he seemed resigned. One reporter asked what AlphaGo鈥檚 weaknesses are? Lee laughed: 鈥淲ell, I guess I lost the game because I wasn鈥檛 able to find out.鈥�
As Lee filed out of the press conference, his thin frame lit up by flashing cameras, a lone Korean reporter cried out, 鈥淟ee Sedol, fighting!鈥�
No one responded.
Read more:聽Does a machine beating a Go master mean human-like AI is close?
