{
  "id": 8338491,
  "title": "Japan researchers use ancient boardgame Go to explore how humans and AI can coexist",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/japan-researchers-use-ancient-boardgame-go-to-explore-how-humans-and",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-19T00:00:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260916/p2a/00m/0na/036000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "TOKYO -- Researchers in Japan are conducting studies on how humans and artificial intelligence (AI) could coexist by utilizing the ancient board game Go in a unique format called Pair Go. The aim is to develop AI capable of understanding and enhancing human abilities, rather than replacing them. In a tournament held on August 29, human players paired with AI systems competed as a single entity called \"Neo Human\" (NH). The tournament featured eight professional Go players, including Ryo Ichiriki, Yuta Iyama, and Toramaru Shibano. The research group, established by the Japan Pair Go Association, views AI not as a replacement for human functions but as a complementary presence. Lead researcher Yuji Ikegaya envisions AI that adapts to individual players' habits and anticipates their moves. Ikegaya also hopes to study the effects of AI partnerships on human thinking and behavior, potentially leading to applications in areas such as nursing care and mental health.",
  "summary": "TOKYO -- Researchers in Japan are using Pair Go, a version of the ancient board game played in teams, to explore how humans and artificial intelligenc",
  "key_points": [
    "Researchers use ancient board game Go to study human-AI coexistence.",
    "\"Pair Go\" format pairs humans with AI as \"Neo Humans\" in tournaments.",
    "Lead researcher aims to develop AI that enhances, not replaces, humans."
  ],
  "editors_take": "This research signals a shift in how AI is developed, from a replacement for human abilities to a complementary tool that enhances and adapts to individual human needs and habits.",
  "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."
}