Artificial intelligence programs have beaten chess masters and TV quiz show champions. Two exchange operators have announced plans to launch artificial intelligence tools for market surveillance in the coming months and officials at a Wall Street regulator say they are not far behind. Executives are hoping computers with humanoid wit can help mere mortals catch misbehaviour more quickly. The software could, for instance, scrub chat-room messages to detect dubious bragging or back slapping around the time of a big trade. It could also unravel complex issues more quickly, like "layering," where orders are rapidly sent to exchanges and then cancelled to move a stock price artificially.