'WebCrow 2.0' AI can solve crosswords in two languages

Crossword puzzles aren't always easy to solve even for the most avid human fans, and they also remain one of the most challenging areas in artificial intelligence. Now, the University of Siena in Italy and expert.ai WebCrow 2.0 uses natural language processing technology to understand a puzzle's clues like a human player would. That's trickier than it sounds, seeing as the same word could mean totally different things based on context, and crossword puzzle clues could contain a play on words. The answer for the clue "liquid that does not stick," for instance, is "scotch," which alludes to Scotch tape. Plus, the AI derives information from previously solved puzzles and its self-updating web knowledge to find the correct answer.