Understanding AI for Executives - AlphaGo, the movie
There are experiences in life that fundamentally change us. There is the 'before' version of ourselves, and the 'after'. I find these events endlessly fascinating, and when I experience them, feel compelled to relentlessly share them with others, in the hope that that they too may experience their life-changing value.
Which brings me to the movie 'AlphaGo', and its dramatic impact on my early understanding of the potential of AI.
AlphaGo - the Movie, with more than 35m views on Youtube and counting, is a 90 minute documentary that explores the development and impact of an artificial intelligence program designed to play the game of Go - a strategy board game for two players in which the aim is to capture more territory than the opponent by fencing off empty space.
The film chronicles the journey of AlphaGo, an AI-powered Go player, created by DeepMind (now a subsidiary of Google) from inception, to its historic matches against some of the world's best Go players, culminating in its groundbreaking victory over 18-time world champion, Lee Sedol.
Go is regarded as the most complex game ever devised by man. Beating a professional player at Go was regarded as a long-standing ‘grand challenge’ of AI research.
Overview of the Movie
Development of AlphaGo: The documentary delves into the creation of AlphaGo. It details the technical challenges and breakthroughs delivered by the team attempting to develop a program capable of mastering this ancient and complex board game.
Historic Matches: The film chronicles the AI software's matches against professional Go players, including its landmark games against European Go champion Fan Hui, and the ultimate challenge against Lee Sedol. These matches were pivotal in demonstrating the capabilities of AI.
Reflections on AI: The documentary features interviews with AI experts, Go players, and commentators who reflect on the broader implications of AI for society, ethics, and the future of human-machine interaction.
Why is the movie so compelling?
Accessibility: The documentary presents complex AI concepts in a way that is accessible to non-technical audiences. By focusing on the game of Go, a tangible and visual subject, it makes the abstract world of AI more relatable and understandable.
Illustrates AI Potential: AlphaGo's achievements demonstrate the potential of AI to solve complex problems and outperform human experts in specific domains. This helps viewers grasp the transformative power of AI.
Ethical and Social Implications: The documentary prompts viewers to think about the ethical and societal implications of AI. It raises questions about the role of AI in human life, the future of work, and the balance between human intuition and machine intelligence.
Inspirational and Thought-Provoking: By showcasing the dedication and innovation of the AlphaGo team, the film inspires viewers to think about the possibilities of AI and encourages a broader discussion about its future applications and impact.
Before watching this movie I was intrigued as to how a machine could be programmed to beat a human at a complex board game. And not just any human, but the world’s best exponent of this highly challenging game. Well before the movie had finished however, it became obvious that, regardless of the natural talent of the world’s premier Go player, there was simply no possibility he could defeat the AI-powered player. No possibility.
For anyone interested in understanding the transformative capabilities of AI, I cannot recommend AlphaGo highly enough. It’s also just a very entertaining movie.