For decades, chess has served as a benchmark for measuring the capabilities of artificial intelligence against human intellect. The landmark moment arrived in 1997 when IBM’s Deep Blue defeated world champion Garry Kasparov, a result that was seen as a significant moment in AI history. While some considered it “one giant leap backward for mankind,” it ignited a fascinating dialogue about the interplay between human strategy and machine computation.
However, the narrative hasn’t been entirely bleak for human players. Recently, Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen managed to best ChatGPT in a game of chess without losing a single piece. In league with this, ChatGPT, utilizing OpenAI’s GPT-3 reasoning model, recently triumphed over Grok, an AI chatbot by Elon Musk’s xAI, in a chess tournament.
So, how does the average chess enthusiast stack up against these AI bots? The experience can be pretty frustrating. Players often voice a common sentiment on chess forums: AI bots operate under a distinct logic that feels fundamentally different from human thought processes. Competing against top-level bots like Stockfish 16, which can analyze over ten million positions per second, leaves little room for error.
Yet, some seasoned players argue that understanding and overcoming a chess bot’s predictable patterns can give humans an edge. But ultimately, AI doesn’t conform to typical conventions. Addressing this challenge, a researcher at Carnegie Mellon University has developed an AI chess bot that plays in a more human-like manner.
Meet Allie—the Human-Like Chess Bot
Say hello to Allie, created by Yiming Zhang, a Ph.D. candidate at CMU’s Language Technologies Institute. Inspired by Netflix’s “The Queen’s Gambit,” Zhang’s enthusiasm for chess led him to this innovative project after he became frustrated with traditional chess bots.
What makes Allie stand apart from typical bots? While many bots are programmed to win at all costs through complex calculations, Allie leverages data from 91 million transcripts of actual chess games. This training enables Allie to emulate human thought patterns, making it feel like you are playing against a human opponent.
According to the published research, Allie “ponders” during critical moments, mirroring the decision-making processes of human players across diverse skill levels, including behaviors like timing and resignations.
Test Your Skills Against Allie
Just because Allie mimics human thought doesn’t mean it’s a pushover. It can hold its own against players ranging from novices to grandmasters. Allie, utilizing adaptive search techniques, demonstrates the expertise expected of a grandmaster, all while learning exclusively through human gameplay.
Since launching publicly, Allie has engaged in over 11,500 matches on Lichess, boasting more than 6,500 victories against human players, only losing around 4,000 times, with over 500 games ending in a draw.
Beginners often find it uninteresting to play against rigid chess bots due to their unusual and often incomprehensible moves to humans. Allie, however, provides a refreshing alternative that can enhance your learning experience. Best of all, it’s completely free and open-source, allowing others to contribute and build upon this innovative platform.
If you want to challenge Allie, note that it only accepts invites for Blitz games. You can observe its gameplay against other humans on Lichess, or you can delve into the code on its GitHub repository.
Can I beat an AI chess bot like Allie? While winning may not always be easy, practicing against such a uniquely trained bot can improve your skills significantly. Give it a try!
Is playing against AI bots good for teaching chess? Many beginners feel AI lacks the instructional value they need due to its unusual playstyle. Allie’s human-like approach offers a more instructive experience.
What’s the underlying technology behind Allie? This chess bot has been trained on millions of human games, allowing it to simulate genuine human thought processes during play.
If you’re looking to expand your chess strategy or simply indulge in a challenging game, developing your skills against innovative tools like Allie can be immensely rewarding. Dive in and explore more insights at Moyens I/O.