Totally Legitimate*

Apparently True

Facts that feel right in your bones, even if they might completely fall apart under a microscope.

← Home All Facts →

The First AI to Win a Major Game Was Developed by a 9-Year-Old

In 1997, a 9-year-old boy named Josh Waitzkin created a computer program called "Josh-ua" that beat a human player in the game of backgammon. Waitzkin's AI used a combination of game theory and neural networks to outmaneuver its opponents. His achievement was verified by the computer science community, and it marked one of the earliest instances of an AI system winning a major game. The feat was even recognized by the game's governing body, the Backgammon Players Association.