What is the impact of artificial intelligence on the poker scene?

AI Poker

The ramifications of AI are getting increasingly tangible in the lives of millions of people. Advanced conversational tools such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT are being used to enhance customer service in the retail industry, while text-to-image AI platforms like Midjourney are powering the work of designers and marketing managers.

The gaming industry has been just as prone to embrace artificial intelligence, with leading studios like Ubisoft doubling down on AI gaming and Web3 technologies. As the poker world doesn’t operate in a vacuum, the technology inevitably made its way onto the poker scene. So, let’s explore how AI is affecting poker.

A divisive issue in the poker community

Poker Chips

The rapid advancement of AI has taken even the most tech-savvy of observers by surprise. Long outspoken about its perceived dangers, Elon Musk placated artificial intelligence as a risk to humanity. OpenAI researchers raised equally alarming concerns over the technology’s safety. Even if the stakes are much less life-shattering, controversy is just as stark among poker circles.

The proliferation of digital analysis tools and mathematics has been swift online, with some prominent figures in poker getting caught red-handed as they used Real Time Assistance (RTA) software to optimize their gameplay. According to a 2023 survey, a large chunk of poker experts is using ChatGPT to win hands. Meanwhile, poker bots routinely give human players instructions online.

In response, part of the industry is pushing back. Last year, the global network 888poker made headlines by positioning itself against AI in poker. The online poker giant invested in both technology and staff to crack down on bots, going as far as to refund nearly $350,000 to AI-affected users.

Is AI even good at poker?

Unlike strategic games like chess or checkers, which follow strictly predefined rules, poker is all about intuition and the ability to read opponents to call their bluffs. Hence, the human component of this high-tension card game cannot be replicated that easily.

AI systems like Deepstack and Libratus long struggled to compete with human players, let alone defeat them. In 2019, however, history was made when the AI program Pluribus came on top in a six-player game of Texas Hold ‘em. By then, it was already apparent that artificial intelligence had mastered poker.

AI systems have now been perfected to a greater extent. Alongside sophisticated neural network structures, advanced machine learning and reinforcement learning techniques help creating algorithms that level the playing field for AI agents confronting professional poker players.

Developed by Google DeepMind, the AlphaGo program has outsmarted world champion Go players while the DeepNash tool has toppled experts at the complex board game Stratego. In short, AI-powered systems can now calculate strategies to rout humans in games that involve imperfect information and strategic thinking.

Is AI all that bad for poker?

While several poker players actively resist the technology, just as many card sharks use artificial intelligence as a learning or training tool. AI-based computer programs provide invaluable insights to newcomers and seasoned poker enthusiasts. Professional players, such as World Series of Poker contender Seth Davis, use GTO solvers like PioSOLVER to analyze their hands post-competition and better profile their opponents.

The pursuit of perfect poker has taken a technological turn, but it is certainly nothing new. As early as 1944, economist Oskar Morgenstern and mathematician John von Neumann sought to define rational behavior in the field of social economy, which led them to play poker to apply their theories.

Despite the controversies surrounding AI-powered bots, artificial intelligence has also revolutionized the iGaming landscape. Many casino operators rely on this emerging technology to provide a secure online environment for their users and prevent fraud like bonus abuse. By using AI, websites can roll out increasingly personalized rewards and automate bonus offers.

With just a click, players may grab no-deposit bonus codes to boost their bankroll. Unlike most casino deals, they do not require players to deposit any cash to play. These free credits are often part of welcome packages for newly registered users. Free online guides and tips can help these new players navigate the world of online gambling to maximize their earnings, and eventually switch from slots to strategic poker games.

Final Thoughts

Some poker enthusiasts argue that AI is destroying the essence of the game they love, while others claim that artificial intelligence can help them become more well-rounded players. Wherever the truth may lie, AI now seems like an unstoppable force in the poker sphere.

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