Go grandmaster urges shift to AI collaboration decade after AlphaGo match

SEOUL, March 9 (AJP) - Former South Korean Go grandmaster Lee Se-dol returned to the site of his historic 2016 match against AlphaGo on Monday to advocate for a new era of cooperation between humans and artificial intelligence.

Speaking during a press conference held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul, the same location where he faced the Google DeepMind program 10 years ago, Lee reflected on how the perception of AI has evolved from a competitive threat to a collaborative tool.

The event was hosted by Enhans, a South Korean AI startup, as part of a campaign for the commercialization of agentic AI. According to the event organizers, the global showcase was also broadcast live in major international hubs including New York and Tokyo.

Lee, who appeared in a suit similar to the one he wore during the 2016 matches, said that while many programs can now outperform humans at the game of Go, there is a distinct lack of AI specifically designed for educational purposes. He suggested that utilizing AI for instruction could significantly lower the barrier to entry for the complex strategy game.

"Go is the only perfect abstract strategy game created by humanity, but its difficulty is both its strength and its weakness," Lee said. "Go is now in the realm of education, and it is no longer necessary to play as well as a professional."
  In March 2016, Lee faced AlphaGo in a five-game series that ended in a 4-1 victory for the machine. Despite the loss, Lee's victory in the fourth game remains the only time a human has defeated that version of the AlphaGo system in a formal setting. He famously retired from professional play in 2019, stating that AI had become an entity that could not be overcome. Information regarding the match history and his retirement was sourced from public news archives.

Lee noted that the global situation has changed since he first sat across from the machine. He said that while the world previously viewed AI as an opponent, the current focus should be on working together to solve unsolvable problems and create new value.

Addressing concerns about job security, Lee said he believes AI will transform the nature of work rather than lead to its disappearance. He described the current period as an early stage where technology will eventually present and create new opportunities for people.

During the event, Lee participated in a demonstration using voice commands to direct an AI agent in building a Go game model. The demonstration was intended to show how human intent can guide AI to perform technical tasks.

Lee, who currently serves as a professor at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, continues to explore the integration of technology in traditional sports and culture. His current academic role was confirmed through university appointment records.

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