Google’s baduk-playing software AlphaGo will battle the world’s Go champion Lee Se-dol next month in Seoul.
The five-match game, which will have a $1 million prize, will start on March 9 and the matches will be broadcast live on YouTube.
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Lee Se-dol |
Artificial intelligence AlphaGo successfully beat the three-time European baduk, or Go, champion Fan Hui 5-0 in a series of games in October.
Lee, 32, is currently the highest-ranked Go player in the world.
He turned pro in 1996 at the age of 13 and has a 71.8 percent winning percentage.
If AlphaGo beats Lee, it could be ranked the best Go player in the world.
In a recent survey of 10 professors in Korea, all respondents said Lee would beat AlphaGo in the matches to be held in March, though they showed mixed outlook on future outcomes.
AlphaGo is an artificial intelligence software developed by Google’s DeepMind AI development house.
The system is based on “Deep learning,” which builds its own understanding of Go.
Google Korea plans to hold a press briefing on Feb. 22 in Seoul, with Lee in attendance. DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis is also expected to join the event via video.
By Lee Ji-yoon (
jylee@heraldcorp.com)
