Can artificial intelligence surpass not only human logical thinking but also creativity? The emergence of AlphaGo has made us rethink the possibilities and limitations of AI beyond simple technological innovation. Let’s take a look at the changes brought about by deep learning and the future of AI.
In 2016, AlphaGo, a Go program developed by Google DeepMind, made headlines around the world. AlphaGo defeated Lee Sedol, a legendary Go player, with a score of 4 wins and 1 loss in a five-game match. This was the first time in Go history that an AI had defeated a professional player. Go was considered a game where AI would struggle to outperform professionals compared to chess, as Go involves considering countless possibilities on a 19×19 board, whereas chess is played on a 8×8 board with a limited set of pieces.
Calculating all possible moves on the 361-square board requires an enormous amount of computation, a task that was impossible with simple algorithms. However, AlphaGo overcame this challenge thanks to deep learning, a new AI algorithm, and defeated the world’s strongest Go player.
Deep learning is the result of about 50 years of AI development and uses innovative methods that cannot be compared to existing algorithms. The history of AI dates back to the mid-20th century and began with the concept of artificial intelligence proposed by Alan Turing. Turing’s theory, famous for the Turing test, became the foundation for early AI research, including programs for mathematical proofs and chess-playing programs. However, computers at the time lacked computational power, making it impossible to overcome the limitations of algorithms that simply calculated all possible outcomes.
To overcome these limitations, researchers explored various methods, one of which was the algorithm known as machine learning. Unlike traditional algorithms, which deal with fixed relationships between inputs and outputs, machine learning adopts a method where programs learn from diverse data to identify rules and patterns on their own. In particular, the development of various learning methods such as supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning significantly improved AI performance.
In the case of AlphaGo, it learned Go by analyzing approximately 30 million professional Go game records. During this process, it learned the basic rules of Go through supervised learning and autonomously acquired standard moves and response strategies for each situation through self-learning.
Finally, through reinforcement learning, it gained the ability to evaluate the probability of winning each move and select the move with the highest probability of winning. Thanks to this learning process, AlphaGo was able to reach a level where it could defeat Lee Sedol, a 9-dan professional Go player. Deep learning is a further development of artificial neural network algorithms based on machine learning.
Artificial neural network algorithms mimic the way neurons connect in biological organisms, deriving results through multiple processes. Early artificial neural networks had limitations, but deep learning improved flexibility by stacking these processes in multiple layers. Additionally, advancements in modern computers have enabled them to handle the massive computational requirements of deep learning, solidifying this algorithm as a core technology in AI research.
The rise of deep learning has ushered in a new golden age of AI. Once the focus of attention but later falling into obscurity, AI is now demonstrating new possibilities. The success of AlphaGo serves as a testament to AI’s ability to solve complex problems, opening new horizons for AI research. There is growing optimism that AI may soon possess human-like cognitive abilities. AlphaGo’s emergence was an important milestone that showed that artificial intelligence had developed to a level where it could actually compete with humans, beyond simply changing the world of Go.
In this way, AlphaGo remains a symbolic figure that realized the potential of AI that humanity had dreamed of, beyond a simple technological achievement. Considering that the development of artificial intelligence is still in its infancy, it is difficult to even imagine the impact AI will have on our society in the future. Excitement continues to grow about how far the fusion of human creativity and technology can go, and what changes it will bring to human life. The future of AI is being shaped right now, and we are at the center of this transformation.
