{
  "id": 4306375,
  "title": "Why we can’t stop solving puzzles — and why AI still can’t set them",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/why-we-cant-stop-solving-puzzles-and-why-ai-still-cant-set-them",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-29T23:30:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/crossword-puzzles-where-every-square-has-two-answers-10852326/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Riddle me this: I am the home of vexing words, where the key lies in a clever turn of phrase or between the lines. Those who unlock the right boxes shall find rare joy. This, dear reader, is the jigsaw puzzle, born in the 1770s when John Spilsbury mounted a world map on a piece of wood and cut it into arbitrary pieces for his students. Today, puzzles come in many forms: crosswords, riddles, spelling bees, logic puzzles, Wordle, and Sudoku, both in physical and digital forms.\n\nThe New York Times (NYT) introduced its crossword in the 1940s, after initially dismissing it as a primitive form of mental development. The NYT Games app, a significant revenue generator, generates approximately 11.2 million USD in in-app purchase revenues worldwide. The market for word games and logic puzzles worldwide is valued at $9.4 billion and is projected to more than double to $20.1 billion over the next decade.\n\nPuzzle solvers exhibit intelligence, patience, and a never-give-up attitude. They are curious and have an unwavering determination to reach the elusive \"aha\" moment. Will Shortz, editor of the NYT Crossword, compares a good puzzle to a work of art, emphasizing the importance of an attractive grid, interesting vocabulary, and a satisfying solver experience.\n\nDavid Astle, an Australian puzzle setter, likens a good puzzle to an apple tree: it should not be a bowl of apples but a tree that yields fruits. A well-crafted puzzle should provide a slow surrender of delightful surprises, achieved through clever clues, fresh angles, snappy language, smart wordplay, and juicy answers. The satisfaction derived from solving a puzzle and the necessity to find fewer hints to reach the goal are equally important for both the solver and the setter.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Jigsaw puzzles originated in 1770s, created by John Spilsbury",
    "NYT crossword introduced in 1940s, now generates $11.2M revenue",
    "Global puzzle market valued at $9.4B, projected to $20.1B"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The enduring appeal of puzzles and their lucrative market reflect the unique satisfaction solvers derive from the challenge, driving both creators and enthusiasts to continually craft and solve them.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}