Ante Up, Human: The Adventures of Polaris, the Poker-Playing Robot

Snippet of Comic

The current issue of Wired has another use (similar to Google’s) of comics to explain research advances in AI and gaming. In this case they feature Polaris by the U of Alberta Computer Poker Research Group led by Michael Bowling. The comic booklet, Ante Up, Human: The Adventures of Polaris, the Poker-Playing Robot features Michael in a smoking jacket and blue bunny slippers. I’m guessing the bunnies are a reference to the arctic hares that we have here in Edmonton, though it should be said that I have never seen Michael in such garb.

The interesting point is how Polaris chooses personalities for extended play.