Use of Artificial Intelligence Programs in Online Go Matches
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Kim Eunji (13), the youngest active professional Go player in Korea, has been suspended for one year after being caught using an artificial intelligence (AI) program during a match.
The Korea Baduk Association announced on the 20th that it held a disciplinary committee and imposed a one-year suspension on Kim 2-dan for violating the association's player regulations and the professional players' code of ethics.
Kim 2-dan gained attention as a "Go prodigy girl" after becoming the youngest active professional player in Korea in January. However, just over 10 months after her debut, she is now unable to participate in activities due to cheating.
On September 29, Kim 2-dan committed cheating during the round of 24 in the online tournament "Oro (ORO) Guksu Jeon".
In that match, Kim 2-dan defeated veteran domestic player Lee Younggu 9-dan (ranked 7th in Korea), but suspicions arose that the moves she made closely matched those recommended by an AI program.
Subsequently, the Korea Baduk Association and the national team requested AI experts to analyze the game records.
During interviews with the Korea Baduk Association and the national team coaching staff, Kim 2-dan reportedly admitted to receiving assistance from AI.
Accordingly, the Korea Baduk Association held a first fact-finding committee on the 3rd and a second on the 17th to investigate the incident.
Kim 2-dan submitted a letter of reflection to the Korea Baduk Association, expressing remorse for her wrong choice and apologizing to her opponent. Kim 2-dan’s mother, who attended the disciplinary committee on her behalf, said, "I have nothing to say but sorry. I was so focused on raising my child that I failed to pay attention to the surroundings. I will reconsider things through this incident."
The disciplinary committee determined that Kim 2-dan violated the association’s player regulations, which strictly prohibit advice and collusion in various tournaments, as well as the professional players' code of ethics concerning prohibited acts such as coaching, intentional losses, proxy matches, team matches involving two or more players in individual competitions, and match-fixing, and thus decided on the disciplinary action.
However, the committee took into account that Kim 2-dan is a minor and that she admitted her wrongdoing and showed remorse when deciding the severity of the punishment.
Meanwhile, Kim 2-dan’s suspension period is one year from the date of receipt of the notification, during which she is banned from participating in all competitions.
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