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Quantum version of the ancient game of Go could be ultimate AI test

By Leah Crane

4 August 2020

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

AIs can now beat humans at the game Go – but what about a quantum version?

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A new version of the ancient Chinese board game Go that uses quantum entanglement to add an element of randomness could make it a tougher test for artificial intelligences than regular board games.

“Board games have long been good test beds for AI because these games provide closed worlds with specific and simple rules,” says Xian-Min Jin at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China. In Go, players take turns to place a stone on a board, trying to surround and capture the opponent’s stones.…

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