Move over David Blaine, a new magician is gearing up to enthrall people with its magic tricks.
Did we mention that the challenger in question is a computer? That's right! Scientists have trained a computer to create and perform magic tricks using artificial intelligence (AI).
The team of researchers from Queen Mary University of London provided a computer program with the data on how some tricks like a mind-reading card game and a magic jigsaw puzzle can be done. The scientists also provided the information on how humans are able to comprehend magic tricks.
Keeping these factors in mind, the computer program developed a novel variant of these tricks, which are frequently associated with a magician. The program deployed existing algorithms and complicated mathematical techniques to come up with the magic tricks.
"Computer intelligence can process much larger amounts of information and run through all the possible outcomes in a way that is almost impossible for a person to do on their own," explained Howard Williams, co-creator of the project. "So while a member of the audience might have seen a variation on this trick before, the AI can now use psychological and mathematical principles to create lots of different versions and keep audiences guessing."
The jigsaw trick requires the assembly of several types of shapes, removing them and assembling them all once more so that some shapes vanish. This illusion is created thanks to a principle of geometry.
The mind-reading card trick requires the identification of a card, which has been selected from the deck. The program arranges the deck in such a manner that a particular card is recognized despite minimal information being available.
The researchers opine that their work may not only make it easier for upcoming magicians to perform tricks, but also help medical science in the future to develop devices that could help eliminate potential "deception" which people fall prey to.
"Using AI to create magic tricks is a great way to demonstrate the possibilities of computer intelligence and it also forms a part of our research in to the psychology of being a spectator," revealed Peter McOwan, a team member.
The research has been published in the journal Frontiers In Psychology.
To download the card trick head to the Google Play store and get the Phoney app here.
