AlphaGo (2017)

AlphaGo (2017) is a documentary directed by Greg Kohs that chronicles a historic clash between human intellect and artificial intelligence.

The ancient Chinese game of Go, with more board configurations than there are atoms in the universe, has long been a grand challenge for AI.

In 2016, Google’s DeepMind team embarked on an audacious mission: to pit their AI creation, AlphaGo, against Lee Sedol, the world’s most elite Go champion.

The stage was set for a best-of-five-game competition in South Korea—the DeepMind Challenge Match. Millions watched as the legendary Go master faced an unproven AI adversary.

AlphaGo extends its story from the halls of Oxford to the backstreets of Bordeaux, and finally, to the coding terminals of DeepMind in London.

The seven-day tournament in Seoul becomes the epicenter of this gripping saga.

AlphaGo, a computer program developed by DeepMind Technologies, mastered Go through artificial intelligence.

The game of Go had stumped AI for decades. As Dave Silver, Lead Researcher for AlphaGo, aptly put it, “Everything we’ve ever tried in AI, it just falls over when you try the game of Go.”

The film poses profound questions: What can AI reveal about a 3000-year-old game? What does it teach us about humanity?

The documentary’s original score by Academy Award nominee Hauschka adds an eloquent layer to the narrative.

As the drama develops, we witness the interplay of man and machine, revealing not only the workings of the human mind but also the future of AI.

In the world of AI, it’s not merely about winning—it’s about unlocking secrets and pushing boundaries. The documentary’s vital exploration serves as a testament to human curiosity and the relentless pursuit for understanding.