ChatGPT recently took on a rather unexpected opponent: an emulated Atari 2600 console running Video Chess. The experiment, led by Citrix engineer Robert Jr. Caruso, showed that despite ChatGPT’s confidence, it couldn’t outplay the nearly 50-year-old chess AI.
The Atari 2600, launched in 1977, featured Video Chess two years later. This version lets players face a computer opponent with limited foresight—only thinking 1-2 moves ahead on a 1.19 MHz processor. Caruso shared that ChatGPT was “absolutely wrecked on the beginner level,” which might surprise some folks given the hype around large language models.
Interestingly, ChatGPT volunteered for the match after a chat about AI’s history in chess. It wanted to test how fast it could beat such a simple program. But the reality was quite different. Caruso explained that ChatGPT struggled to keep track of the board state and the roles of each piece. In fact, for over 90 minutes, he had to intervene regularly, correcting the AI’s moves and board awareness.
It’s important to remember ChatGPT isn’t designed specifically for chess. Its strength lies in text processing and generation, not deep game calculations. When asked if it can play chess, ChatGPT confirms it can, but with some caveats:
- Not infallible: It can make mistakes, especially in complex positions.
- No deep calculation: Unlike dedicated chess engines, it doesn’t analyze millions of positions.
- No rating: Its skill likely ranges from beginner to intermediate club level, depending on context.
Comparing ChatGPT to the Atari 2600’s Video Chess AI is a bit like comparing apples and oranges. The Atari’s AI is extremely limited by hardware, yet it plays a game with very defined rules and limited options. ChatGPT, in contrast, processes language and attempts to play chess through text-based reasoning, which can lead to confusion over board state and moves.
Still, Caruso’s experiment is a neat reminder that even popular AI tools have their limits and quirks. ChatGPT might be impressive in many ways, but beating a vintage chess program isn’t one of them—at least not yet. It’s kinda amusing to see a 48-year-old console come out on top in this match!
