Computer programme AlphaGo beating human opponent hailed as breakthrough for artificial intelligence

A Google computer programme has defeated a human opponent in the first of five matches of a complex Chinese board game called Go.

The victory by AlphaGo, the artificial intelligence programme developed by Google DeepMind, over South Korean Go champion Lee Sedol is significant because the ancient Chinese game, one of the most creative and complex to be devised, was difficult for computers to master.

The near-infinite number of board positions in Go requires players to rely on intuition in making their moves.