2017-2018

News Release

REF NO.: 18

SUBJECT: PSA: Public Lecture: The Games Computers (and Humans) Play

DATE: November 15, 2017

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is already changing the world, although most of the impact is invisible to the general population.

That will end very soon as high-profile applications of AI will profoundly alter the way we live, work and play –driverless cars, for example.

AI is the subject of an upcoming public lecture on Memorial’s St. John’s campus. Dr. Jonathan Schaeffer, dean of Science, University of Alberta, will give a “gentle” introduction to AI, contrasting the abilities of humans and computers to solve problems. Dr. Schaeffer will illustrate these differences using games.

Dr. Schaeffer’s checkers-playing program, Chinook, was the first computer to win a human world championship in any game (1994).

His lecture, titled The Games Computers (and Humans) Play, takes place Thursday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. in the Bruneau Centre for Research and Innovation, room IIC-2001.

A reception will follow and limited free parking is available in lot 17. All are welcome.

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