Bluer Than Blue: How IBM Managed It [Interview]

In May, using 30 extra RS/6000 processors 'borrowed' from other research projects, an IBM SP2 known as Deep Blue defeated world champion chess grand master, Garry Kasparov, in a dramatic and highly symbolic chess match. Much debate has ensued. Had a machine finally achieved human intelligence? Was that even the point of the research project? We were intrigued that raw computing power alone didn’t seem to be enough to accomplish the amazing milestone. A combination of 256 chess-specific coprocessors, more than 25 cumulative years of computer chess experience among the team, and a fulltime human grand master opponent were needed to create the virtual Super Chess GameBoy. IEEE Concurrency asked Deep Blue team scientist Joseph Hoane about the parallel nature of the Deep Blue computer, as well as the need to go so deep into the domain of chess. Hoane has worked on the Deep Blue software for five years. At IBM, he's also worked on RP3 - a research parallel processor - network simulation for parallel processors to understand the communication overhead, and an embedded compiler for a database system.