AI-Powered Crossword Generation: A Breakthrough
Bill Moorier, a programmer, has been developing computer programs to generate crosswords for years. Recently, incorporating modern AI techniques, he's achieved remarkable results, producing crosswords that rival human-created ones. His approach combines traditional computer science algorithms and modern AI models. It begins with a massive wordlist, refined by AI to remove obscure terms. A grid with 180-degree rotational symmetry is then generated, filled with words using a backtracking search algorithm. Finally, a large language model generates clues, with post-processing to avoid revealing the answers. The system currently generates a complete crossword roughly every two minutes, though imperfections remain, such as occasional clue leakage (especially with acronyms). Future plans include themed crosswords, a significant challenge in crossword generation.