Absolute Destiny Game
Chapter 311 - 107 Immortal Descends to the Mortal World

Chapter 311: Chapter 107 Immortal Descends to the Mortal World

Supreme Illusion God? Sounds pretty formidable.

"Really? Even more formidable than AlphaGo?" Xiao Jie asked in surprise, remembering AlphaGo as an incredibly powerful presence.

"Of course, AlphaGo is, after all, AI from ten years ago. Artificial intelligence is now a hot industry, with major tech companies all researching the stuff, constantly iterating and updating. AlphaGo is nothing by now, some companies are even starting to develop Dominator Level AI."

"Dominator Level AI? What’s that?"

"Theoretically, it’s AI that can dominate everything. You know about the first-move guaranteed win strategy in Gomoku, right?"

"Yeah, I know."

Gomoku, if you master certain skills, theoretically allows you to always win with the first move. Of course, to balance it out, the forbidden move rule was later added, but even so, the first move still has a huge advantage.

"Achieving a guaranteed win with the first move in Gomoku is very easy, because the rules are too simple; humans can do it with training."

In fact, theoretically, all chess-like games can lead to a guaranteed win for the first player, it just requires a different amount of computing power.

Take Chinese chess, for example. Humans can’t achieve a guaranteed win, but current AI has reached the point where it can guarantee a win with the first move in Chinese chess. If the AI goes first, every move you make will be calculated clear as day, no matter how you play, defeat is certain.

The game is over from the first move.

But Go is currently not at that point yet, because the variables in Go are too great; the computing power needed grows exponentially, and current computers simply aren’t up to the task.

However, some labs are said to be combining quantum computers and AI. It’s said that they might research a Dominator Level AI; it’s not just about playing Go, this AI could even calculate future histories of the real world."

Xiao Jie wondered if this was real or fiction; it sounded extremely mysterious. If so, it would be like cheating, right? Even an Immortal, let alone a Saint, would be useless.

"Is that what your company is researching?"

"Ah, not exactly, but it’s impressive nonetheless. Beating ten AlphaGos is no issue."

Xiao Jie thought that was reassuring.

"Okay, how much for this Supreme Illusion God?"

"You can’t buy this thing, but I can send you a demo version, consider it a tech test."

"A demo version? Is that reliable? My opponent is a real master player; this chess game is a matter of life and death for me. You’d better not mess this up."

"Come on, what era do you think it is? Masters, what good are they? Human chess players have no chance against AI. Let me put it this way, although this AI is a demo version, it’s more than ten times better than AlphaGo. You can’t imagine how fast AI evolves. AlphaGo can basically crush any human player now, and Supreme Illusion God can crush AlphaGo, so you tell me if it’s formidable. As long as you’re playing a person, there’s no chance you’ll lose."

"Then I’ll have to trouble you, how much is it?"

"Talk of money is too impersonal; later, when a new game comes out, just farm me a few sets of Equipment."

"Deal."

It wasn’t long before a file was transferred to him.

Xiao Jie moved over another computer to accept it, surprised to find it was quite large, easily more than one hundred gigs.

"Jeez, why is this file so large?"

"Duh, AI isn’t just some simple software, but... forget it, you wouldn’t understand if I explained. Just load it up."

Once Xiao Jie installed the program and opened it, a Go interface popped up. It seemed rather basic, probably because they hadn’t gotten around to designing the interface yet.

Nevertheless, the essential features were quite complete. Xiao Jie ran a few tests to make sure it worked, then returned to his own computer and logged back into the game.

"Immortal, I’m back," Xiao Jie said to the Shenji Taoist.

The Shenji Taoist chuckled, "Young friend, you never left. What return is there to speak of?"

"Hehe, yeah, just a slip of the tongue. Technically, my spirit wandered off for a bit, so that’s why I say I’m back. Let’s start the game, Daoist. What are the rules for this game of Go?"

"What rules? Black plays first, White plays after. Just start the game."

Xiao Jie felt a moment of admiration—sure enough, this was the Immortal’s style, embodying an air of casual freedom.

In the game of Go, playing first is a significant advantage. Therefore, in different eras, there have often been different rules to ensure fairness. The most common is the compensation points; to balance the game, black has to give up a certain number of points or stones when tallying up territory in the end.

But it seemed that this Immortal wasn’t concerned with such details.

Xiao Jie probed, "So, who plays as Black and who as White?"

The Shenji Taoist smiled, "Ha, you shall play as Black, young friend."

The Immortal seemed pretty confident.

"Then I won’t hold back. So if I win this game, the Immortal will let me pass?"

"Correct."

"Then let’s begin."

Xiao Jie spoke and launched the Go program, choosing for the AI to play as Black and himself as White. However, in the game, he was Black, while the Shenji Taoist was White.

He watched the AI place a stone on the board.

Xiao Jie mimicked the move, placing his stone on the same spot on the board.

"Oh? This kind of opening, I’ve never seen before. You don’t seem fond of chess, young friend," said the Immortal, placing his White stone on the central point.

Although Xiao Jie was a Go novice, he knew the significance of the central point. Go strategy revolves around "Gold corners, silver edges, grass belly"; the first move at the central point was definitely a rookie’s play. Novels always write it this way.

Internally chuckling, he wondered who exactly lacked skill in Go, thinking, "What era of Go skills are you from, buddy? Today, you’re in for a cyber-shock."