Elon Musk believes that chess will essentially ‘be solved’ within 10 years like checkers, in an opinion that drew sharp responses from some of the world’s top grandmasters.
The conversation began on X after Musk had initially shared photo of a device that one social media user immediately linked to the unsubstantiated rumours that Hans Niemann was using a sex toy to cheat in games.
Musk replied to that, stating that if the American had used a device “he deserved to win. At least once”.
I have to say that if he did use Stockfish butt vibes, he deserved to win. At least once.
Computers are so much better than humans at chess, it’s absurd.
I predict that chess will be essentially fully solved (like checkers) within 10 years.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 12, 2024
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Musk, who is the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla and owner of X, then added: “Computers are so much better than humans at chess, it’s absurd. I predict that chess will be essentially fully solved (like checkers) within 10 years.”
This drew sharp reactions from the chess community.
It must be noted that an Investigatory Panel of FIDE’S Fair Play Commission found no evidence that Niemann cheated in over-the-board games.
Niemann tweeted: “Although my innocence has been proven by multiple official chess organizations, I understand the comedic value behind this conspiracy theory. I look forward to becoming world chess champion, and letting the chess speak for itself.”
Emil Sutovsky, the CEO of chess’ global governing body FIDE, replied: “Engines haven’t advanced much for few years now. Even the task of solving all positions with 9 pieces can’t be completed. It’ll take years to cover 10 pieces, and you have 32. Engines are incomparably better than humans for 20 years now, but no checkers-type solution expected.”
No big ‘mysteries’ left in chess?
Peter Heine Nielsen, who has been a trainer for both Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen, said: “From a technical aspect I quite agree with Musk´s takes on chess. For practical purposes chess is close to being solved. And from a general game perspective, the lag of “fog of war” hurts chess. But chess is the perfect game from a sporting perspective, and truly global.”
In a response to another tweet, Nielsen added: “…in a practical sense it is (close to being solved). Any reasonable question we have, the computer will give a very precise answer to. There are no big ‘mysteries’ left.”
Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik tweeted: “In some sense, agree, “fully enough” to understand almost everything about the game. But still humans competing each other will be interesting for public IF we find a way to make sure no computer help possible during the games. Public will wonder who of two players is dumber.”
When Musk insulted Kasparov
In the past, Musk had butted antlers with former world champion Garry Kasparov over the Ukraine-Russia war, where he had made disparaging remarks about Kasparov and said the he found chess “too simple to be useful in real life’.
While it’s true that Kasparov is almost as good at playing chess as my iPhone, he is otherwise an idiot
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 24, 2022
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This incident was from 2022 when Kasparov had slammed Musk for his comments on the Ukraine-Russia war.
Responding to that, Musk had said: “While it’s true that Kasparov is almost as good at playing chess as my iPhone, he is otherwise an idiot.”
Then, talking about playing chess, Musk tweeted: “I did (play chess) as a child, but found it to be too simple to be useful in real life: a mere 8 by 8 grid, no fog of war, no technology tree, no random map or spawn position, only 2 players, both sides exact same pieces, etc.”
