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The Intersection of Legendary Retreat and AI Ascent: Charting the New Go Landscape

In a poignant admission, South Korean Go champion Lee Se-dol has retired from professional play due to the advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). As the world's number one ranked Go player in the late 2000s, Lee found himself defeated by DeepMind's AlphaGo AI system in a historic match in 2016.

For decades, Go was considered an unattainable challenge for even the most advanced computer programs due to its immense complexity and vast number of possible configurations. However, thedefeat of Se-dol by AlphaGo served as a wake-up call , introducing the world to a new era of machine learning programs that promised to surpass traditional AI in intelligence and creativity.

Lee's losses to AlphaGo were particularly shocking, as he initially predicted a landslide victory. After the tournament, he publicly expressed his disappointment, stating, "I failed... I feel sorry that the match is over and it ended like this. I wanted it to end well." The games between Lee and AlphaGo showcased extraordinary play, with both AI and human players demonstrating remarkable strategies.

Since then, DeepMind has continued to improve its AI Go systems. In 2017, it introduced AlphaGo Zero, a version of the program that surpassed even AlphaGo by learning to play through self-study rather than relying on a database of human games. The new AI system was able to defeat its predecessor 100 games to nil after just three days of supercomputer-assisted play.

In response, DeepMind's CEO Demis Hassabis praised Lee for his "true warrior spirit" and acknowledged his status as one of the greatest Go players in history. While Lee plans to commemorate his retirement by playing a match against the South Korean AI program HanDol, he admits that even with a two-stone advantage, he expects to lose the first game. This marks an exciting new chapter for the world of AI and its potential impact on human competition in complex games such as Go. Stay informed with our daily digest and homepage updates on this captivating topic.

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The Evolving Frontier: Navigating Innovation at CES 2019

We are thrilled to announce that The Verge will once again grace Las Vegas for CES 2019 , bringing you all the latest news, innovations, and updates from the world of technology. This year's conference promises to be an iterative event, showcasing enhancements in existing services, products, and technologies, such as PCs, smart home devices, folding phones, and devices with integrated Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

The PC industry is experiencing an interesting phase as it heads towards CES 2019. While significant transformations may not be imminent, expect to see refinements in various areas, including increased competition from AMD, Intel's latest processors, and Nvidia’s newest GPUs. This year's trend of smaller bezels will also make a strong comeback at the show.There's a chance that laptop manufacturers might have caught 5G fever too, meaning we could see some announcements for 5G-capable laptops alongside this year’s wave of 5G phones.

CES has emerged as one of the most significant platforms for PC gaming in recent years, with big reveals typically saved for E3. At CES 2019, we can anticipate news on Nvidia's RTX graphics for laptops, announcements from Acer, Alienware, Asus, Razer, and AMD, and potential unveilings of new, experimental hardware designs.

This year’s CES is expected to be a quieter one on the transportation front, with a focus on electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous driving technology. Major automakers like Audi and Mercedes-Benz will showcase their new all-electric SUVs, while other manufacturers such as Hyundai will present innovative creations like the Nexo Fuel Cell vehicle.In the realm of drones, DJI is keeping mum about any upcoming announcements after releasing the Tello drone in partnership with startup Ryze. However, other players in the industry have been named as CES 2019 Innovation Award Honorees, showcasing innovative solutions for underwater exploration and mapping.

CES will see numerous health gadget companies making bold claims about their devices' ability to monitor various health metrics and improve overall well-being. While it is essential to approach these claims with skepticism, Apple’s introduction of EKG functionality on the Apple Watch Series 4 sets a high bar for other wearable manufacturers this year. Stay tuned to The Verge for comprehensive coverage from CES 2019! Don't forget to subscribe to our daily email digest and homepage feed for the latest updates.