Before, After, and Beyond AlphaGo

This book is a unique exploration designed for both philosophers and Baduk (Go, Weiqi) players, bridging two worlds that rarely intersect. AlphaGo, the groundbreaking AI, has been both a challenge and a revelation for these communities. As someone who belongs to both groups, the author feels a profound responsibility to connect them and share insights that resonate across disciplines. In Part I, readers will journey through the author’s personal struggle to understand human reasoning, shaped by his experiences with Baduk before the advent of AlphaGo. Part II delves into the author’s response to AlphaGo’s transformative challenge, offering a firsthand account of grappling with its implications. Finally, Part III presents reflections on abductive cognition, a concept that holds the key to understanding human and AI interaction. AlphaGo stands as a symbol of the AI era – a time when artificial intelligence permeates every aspect of our lives. Go players, uniquely positioned as pioneers in human–AI coexistence, offer invaluable lessons for navigating this new reality. As we confront critical challenges in AI, such as explainability, we must embrace abductive cognition and enthymematic interaction, concepts deeply embedded in the game of Go. This book is not just for philosophers or Go players – it is for anyone seeking to understand the profound implications of AI on human thought, interaction, and the future of our species.