computer-go: 10 years is nothing.

["P.Y.J. Zandveld" <p.y.j.zandveld@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Computer Go Mailers,

I have not followed all details of your recent discussion, but I stumbled
across Don's statement that looked like a conclusion.

>The best go programs
>in 10 or 20  years (in terms  of software only) will probably  improve
>quite substantially, but  I suspect people will find  a way  to better
>utilize the power of the computer too.  The  only advantage a computer
>has over a human is vast speed and accurate memory, everthing else has
>to be faked.  We will never see great Go  programs if we don't utilize
>the hardware, we might as well write a list of instructions on a sheet
>of paper.

I could have written down that statement in 1988. In that year I made
a bet with Robert Rehm about the year 2000. My opinion was:

"in the year 2000 a computer program can with black and 9 stones handicap
beat Robert Rehm (european 5 dan)"

I am going to loose this bet with a wide margin, unless someone can
provide me with a program before 21rst of october 2000. 

In fact very little progress was made. Somewhere in 1992 Mark Boon wrote
a program of about 10 kyu, when playing against weaker or a little 
stonger players. Now a couple of programs are a little stronger, but no
real advance is visible.

If Robert Rehm wants to make a new bet for 2010 with the same conditions
I am afraid I will not accept. 10 years is enormous in terms of computer
hardware
and software, but nothing in terms of go software development.

peter

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Peter Zandveld
Schaak en go winkel het Paard
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Wholesale and retail import and export of go books and equipment
European distributor of Go World
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