On May 11th in Science History, a significant event took place in 1997. On this day, IBM's Deep Blue computer made history by defeating Garry Kasparov, the reigning world chess champion, in a highly publicized six-game match. This event marked a major milestone in the field of artificial intelligence and showcased the potential of machines to outperform humans in complex tasks.

Deep Blue was a specialized chess-playing computer developed by IBM specifically to challenge Kasparov. It was capable of evaluating an astonishing 200 million positions per second, utilizing advanced algorithms and a vast database of chess moves and strategies. The match between Deep Blue and Kasparov was a rematch from the previous year, where Kasparov had defeated an earlier version of the computer.

The 1997 match was held in New York City and attracted worldwide attention. It consisted of six games, with Deep Blue winning the first game, marking the first time a computer had ever defeated a world champion in a game under standard chess tournament conditions. Kasparov bounced back and won the second game, but Deep Blue won the fifth game, with the other three ending in draws. The final score was 3½-2½ in favor of Deep Blue.

This victory by Deep Blue stunned the world and sparked intense debates about the future of artificial intelligence and its potential impact on society. It demonstrated that machines could be programmed to excel in highly complex domains, such as chess, which requires strategic thinking, pattern recognition, and decision-making skills.

The match also raised philosophical questions about the nature of intelligence and whether machines could truly "think" or exhibit creativity. It inspired further research and development in the field of AI, paving the way for future breakthroughs and advancements.

Today, the Deep Blue versus Kasparov match is remembered as a pivotal moment in the history of artificial intelligence and a testament to the rapid progress of technology. It continues to inspire and challenge researchers to push the boundaries of what machines can achieve and to explore the complex relationship between human and artificial intelligence.