Author: Russell Reagan
Date: 16:05:01 04/10/02
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On April 10, 2002 at 18:11:16, Peter Hegger wrote: >Hello, >I've been posting and reading posts here for over 4 years. One constant, burning >question during these years has been " Are computers GMs yet at 40/2/?" >A few years ago, the issue was in doubt. But what is the consensus now about the >top programs, running on fast hardware? >Has the debate finally been laid to rest? >Regards, >Peter Technically they aren't GM's of course, since they are not humans and do not qualify to play in tournaments on many accounts (cannot move pieces on their own, etc.). However, they are playing at a GM level. HOWEVER, this does not mean by any stretch that the best computers are better than the best humans. I think that this is where people usually get confused and get into arguments. Computers are playing at GM level, since they are capable of either being very competitive of defeating GM's in matches. I do not think that the best computer programs are _clearly_ better than the top humans yet though. The computers still seem to be able to hang in there and even defeat most master level players, but I think we will have a better idea when Kramnik plays Fritz later this year. How many "best players in the world" have we had play computers so far? There have been numerous GM vs. computer matches, but really only Kasparov vs. Deep Blue was pitting one of the top handful of players in the world against the best computer in the world. And the humans losing one match when we had our best player playing for us doesn't really conclude that computers are clearly better. Are computers clearly better than most GM's? Yes. Are computers clearly better than the top handful of players in the world? No. Are the top handful of players in the world clearly better than the top computers? No. At the top level it's still unclear. At lower levels the following becomes obvious: Out of the set of human chess players, computers can beat most, but not all. Out of the est of chess playing computer programs, the best humans can best most, but not all. Computers are clearly gaining on us though, and it's only a matter of time until no one will be able to beat a computer. The only thing to ponder now is when that will finally happen. Yes, computers are better than most GM's now, but it's still up for debate whether they are better than ALL GM's now. It could take another year for computers to become unbeatable, or it could take 20 years. Who knows. But it WILL happen eventually (unless the earth explodes before then or something). Russell
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