Tencent’s Fine Art wins Computer Go UEC Cup

Tencent’s artificial intelligence (AI) Fine Art (绝艺 in Chinese) stole the limelight after its stunning 11-game winning streak, at the 10th Computer Go UEC Cup, which ended on March 19 in Tokyo, local media is reporting (in Chinese).

Fine Art is an AI system designed by a team of 13 researchers at Tencent’s AI Lab, which was established less than one year ago. Its research focuses on machine learning, natural language processing, speech recognition and computer vision.

The news has caused another stir in the internet industry, following Google AlphaGo’s overwhelming victory last year, which has achieved a feat of 60 wins and 0 losses as of Jan. 5, 2017.

Unlike ordinary Go matches with all human contestants beings, the Computer Go UEC Cup held at the University of Electro-Communications (UEC) in Japan every year only has artificial intelligence competitors. The runner-up went to Japan’s DeepZenGo this year.

The Go tournament invited Google’s AlphaGo, but was declined.

According to Tencent, Fine Art adopts an algorithm similar to that of AlphaGo, mainly including human match database and the machine’s own match processing. In addition, the algorithm is based on strategic and value networks.

Not to be outdone, China’s two other internet giants Alibaba and Baidu have been ramping up efforts on AI research as well. Alibaba has launched AI programs such as the city brain project and ET Robot project.

Baidu has spent more than RMB 10 billion on its three AI research labs in recent years, and the recent public appearance of its AI “Baidu Brain” on a popular mental athletics show has won wide acclaim for its excellent face, voice, and fuzzy recognition.

When asked whether Fine Art has plans to play a match with AlphaGo in the future, the research team said they have no plans currently.