Skip to main content current edition: International edition The Guardian - Back to home Become a supporter Subscribe Find a job Jobs Sign in Search Show More Close with google sign in become a supporter subscribe search find a job dating more from the guardian: change edition: edition International edition The Guardian - Back to home browse all sections close Artificial intelligence (AI) Opinion The Observer view on artificial intelligence Observer editorial Superintelligent computers may grab the headlines, but the humble algorithm is a significant threat to humanity Libratus beats poker players world’s best poker players in Pittsburgh last week. Photograph: Carnegie Mellon University Artificial intelligence (AI) Opinion The Observer view on artificial intelligence Observer editorial Superintelligent computers may grab the headlines, but the humble algorithm is a significant threat to humanity Sun 5 Feb ‘17 00. 05 GMT Last modified on Sat 2 Dec ‘17 03. -- , then Go and now poker. One after another, these games, all of which require significant amounts of intelligence and expertise if they are to be played well, have fallen to the technology we call artificial intelligence (AI). And as each of these milestones is passed, speculation about the prospect of “superintelligence” (the attainment by machines of human-level capabilities) reaches a new high before the media caravan moves on to its next obsession du jour.