AI is literally everywhere, and even if you don’t follow the latest technological advancements, you’ve definitely heard about artificial intelligence and its potential. AI is also slowly moving into the world of online gambling, and there is a good reason for that.
Artificial Intelligence is being incorporated into the gambling industry with the goal of making the process more understandable, secure, entertaining, and of course, more user-friendly.
However, this technology has limitless potential, and it all depends on which hands it is in. If we are talking about casinos using AI, they are probably going to scan every hand, predict the winning chances of every possibility, and tame their games to increase their profits.
On the other hand, AI in the hands of the players can be used to outsmart the house. But is this really a thing?
Is there an AI software that is capable of playing casino games like poker? Well, there certainly is. But before you get excited and try to use AI to demolish your poker opponents, there are a few things to understand.
How It All Began
AI may be here, but this technological change didn’t happen overnight. First AI was used in other more simpler games (simpler in terms of actions that can impact the gameplay, not the game itself) like chess. This is a game where the rules are rock-solid, and every move can be calculated.
Poker, on the other hand, is an entirely different animal. We are talking about a game where you have to make a decision based on incomplete information, plus there are other things to worry about, like bluffing and reading your opponent’s play.
However, we’ve all seen what AI can do, and playing poker like a professional or even better shouldn’t be that surprising. That’s why AI programs were created more than a decade ago. We are talking about programs like DeepStack and Libratus. They were designed to tackle the complexity of No-LImite Texas Hold-em, and in 2017 Libratus made headlines by defeating professional human poker players in a 20-day marathon.
Humans were no match for Libratus, and we are talking about a technology way before the huge advancements in the AI world like Chat GPT. What about now? AI should be even more powerful since it has access to vast amounts of data, right?
Should we be scared of signing up for the poker tournaments at Bovada? Well, not really, since this technology is not yet mainstream.
What Makes AI So Good at Poker?
It is quite strange to see that AI (basically an algorithm) can play a game as complex as Poker, where besides the rules, there are also emotions, bluffing, and psychological play.
So, how can AI play poker and beat professional poker players? Well, the answer comes down to data. AI can process vast amounts of data and calculate probabilities in real-time. Something that we as humans cannot.
Yes, professionals might have experience, but that is no match for the super-computer that calculates every single possibility in a split-second.
How does it work?
- Game Theory Optimization (GTO): AI uses GTO to make decisions that are mathematically balanced. It doesn’t rely on gut feelings or hunches; it plays the odds in a way that minimizes its losses and maximizes its gains over the long run.
- Machine Learning: AI learns from every hand it plays. Over time, it can identify patterns and adjust its strategy to exploit weaknesses in its opponents’ playstyles.
- Bluffing: Believe it or not, AI can bluff! By mixing up its strategy and making unpredictable moves, it can confuse human players, making it hard for them to figure out whether the AI is holding a winning hand or just a pair of twos.
In essence, AI doesn’t just play poker; it plays poker at a level that most humans can only dream of reaching.
Can AI Beat Humans at Poker?
The short answer is yes, AI can and does beat humans at poker. But before you throw in the towel and hand over your chips, it’s important to note that AI excels in specific formats of the game.
AI shines in heads-up No-Limit Texas Hold’em (that’s one-on-one poker for the uninitiated). In this format, the AI can better manage the complexities of the game, making it nearly unbeatable. In fact, Libratus’s victory over human pros was in this very format.
However, when you introduce more players into the mix, the game becomes exponentially more complex, and while AI is still formidable, it’s not as dominant as it is in heads-up play.
Another key factor is the element of surprise. While AI can process probabilities and optimize its play, humans bring creativity and unconventional tactics to the table—something that machines still struggle to fully replicate.
So, Should You Be Worried About AI Taking Over Poker?
Well, if you’re playing at the highest stakes, you might want to be cautious about who—or what—you’re up against. But for the average poker night with friends, AI isn’t a threat. It’s not like robots are crashing home games just yet!
That said, AI has already found its way into online poker, where some platforms use AI to assist players in making decisions. While this can be a helpful tool for beginners, it’s also raised concerns about fairness in the game. After all, if everyone had access to AI poker tools, would it still be poker?
