Well Played: Checkers Is Solved

January 25, 2008

checkers.jpgI’m not that up on artificial intelligence but wanted to share this study in Science involving perfect play of a game – in this case checkers. It took 18 years to solve. Wonder when they’ll have enough power to solve Monopoly. Or getting that next promotion. It’s all a game isn’t it?

Jonathan Schaeffer, a computer-games expert at the University of Alberta in Canada, solved it. He believes the techniques he has developed could be applied to many real-world problems. He gives the example of scheduling the time and work required to build a complex machine such as the space shuttle.

With these techniques, you could optimise the use of your resources to build the shuttle for the least time or cost,” he says.”

Think about it.

Via NewScientistTech

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  • http://www.downes.ca Stephen Downes

    It was actually a team of researchers did that. I know one of them, Rob Lake. We used to play NTN trivia together in Edmonton. We were North American (ie., world) champions. Rob’s computer program was also world checkers champion (now, of course, the idea of a world checkers champion is moot).

  • http://www.downes.ca Stephen Downes

    It was actually a team of researchers did that. I know one of them, Rob Lake. We used to play NTN trivia together in Edmonton. We were North American (ie., world) champions. Rob’s computer program was also world checkers champion (now, of course, the idea of a world checkers champion is moot).

  • http://www.brandon-hall.com Janet Clarey

    That is so cool. Any particular trivia category? Hockey maybe? Thanks for pointing out that a team was involved…perhaps more than a cursory reading next time ; )

  • http://www.brandon-hall.com/ Janet Clarey

    That is so cool. Any particular trivia category? Hockey maybe? Thanks for pointing out that a team was involved…perhaps more than a cursory reading next time ; )

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