Keeping Control

On May 8 Scotland’s The Herald, the longest running national newspaper in the world (according to Wikipedia), featured bridge on it’s front page, referencing an article by Professor Samantha Punch which suggested that the 100-year-old card game could save us from over-reliance on AI.

While AI can now excel at the play of the hand (in 2022 it defeated Bénédicte Cronier, Thomas Bessis, Brad Moss, Nevena Senior, Sabine Auken, Roy Welland, Anna Gulevich and Mikael Rimstedt), it still lags behind in the fields of bidding and defense. Professor Punch points out the importance of that distinction, because at the very moment AI is becoming more capable of thinking for us, we are at risk of doing less thinking ourselves. Bridge reminds us of what it means to think actively, collaboratively and under pressure. It challenges us, frustrates us and ultimately rewards us with a deeper understanding of both the game and ourselves.

The article was part of a campaign promoting the Scottish Youth Bridge Camp taking place 19-21 June at the University of Stirling (www.scottishbridge.org).