Keeping an eye on artificial intelligence

In June last year a fascinating aerial battle took place. It didn't take place in the actual sky but rather in the virtual one, which was appropriate considering it was a battle of man against machine. The man in question wasn't an ordinary pilot but a retired US Airforce pilot, Gene Lee, with combat experience in Iraq and a graduate of the US Fighter Weapons School. The machine he was battling was a simulated aircraft controlled by an artificial intelligence (AI). What was surprising about the outcome was that the artifical AI emerged as the victor.