Automated Crossword Solving

This Data Challenge consists of developing new modules designed to improve the crossword solving performances of the Webcrow 2.0 agent. The set of modules used to evaluate the base system in different human-vs-AI competitions includes experts for various languages (Italian, English, French), implementing clue database search, rule-based solvers, knowledge graph query, web search, candidate list merging, and optimal grid filling. 

Crossword puzzles are an intriguing challenge for humans because of the complexity and nuances of natural language. Solving a crossword puzzle requires different abilities, that include language understanding, access to general knowledge, and reasoning to solve cryptic clues and/or define an optimal grid-filling strategy to exploit the grid constraints to select the correct word among a set of candidates. Language analysis is needed for understanding clues, finding the correct meaning requires inferences and reasoning that make use of knowledge from various sources. An automated crossword solving agent combines advanced Artificial Intelligence techniques, such as Natural Language Understanding, Question Answering and Constraint Satisfaction to identify the candidate words for each clue, evaluate them and insert the answers into the grid.

The CINI (TAILOR partner #37) developed an open software platform (Webcrow 2.0) that allows the integration of experts for crossword solving. The process involves input management (clues, grid), multiple candidate answer generators, candidate list merging, and grid filling. The modules communicate through a redis pub/sub messaging backbone. The Webcrow project also includes a web platform, webcrow arena, for organizing human-vs-AI competitions.

Calendar

  • January 12, 2023: Intelligence artificielle VS Humain: pouvez-vous rivaliser avec WebCrow? The first Data Challenge was organized in INRIA Sophia (details)
  • February 9, 2023: Competition in WAICF Three Data Challenges were organized during the conference, Italian, French and American Crossword were proposed.
  • February 24, 2023: Intelligence artificielle VS Humain: pouvez-vous rivaliser avec WebCrow? Défi de mots croisés en Français – Tailor Workshop. Italian, and American Crosswords were also proposed.
  • June 5, 2023: 3rd Tailor conference. Data Challenge presentation

Links