AI continues to encroach on nearly every aspect of our lives, online or otherwise, and crosswords are not immune to this effect.

Actually, crosswords and computers have walked hand-in-hand for a long time.

Some companies use computer programs to generate their unthemed crosswords, no human intervention necessary. Computer programs like Crossword Compiler aid constructors in puzzle design and grid fill, allowing them to build and cultivate databases of words with which to complete their grids.

And computers are getting better at solving puzzles as well. Years ago, I wrote about a program that taught itself to solve Rubik’s Cubes.

Matt Ginsberg’s ever-evolving crossword-solving program Dr. Fill won the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament in 2021 — although the top prize still went to a flesh-and-blood solver — a first-time occurrence which garnered a lot of media attention:

The first computer to win the event, Dr. Fill completed most puzzles in well under a minute and only made three mistakes, edging out its top human competitor by 15 points.

To be fair, several constructors responded by vowing to make a crossword for the following year’s tournament that would thwart any computer. And I respect such inspired declarations immensely.

(I’ll have to do more research and find out if any of them succeeded!)

Really, we shouldn’t be surprised. They wrote an entire Crossword Mysteries movie on the Hallmark Channel about a crossword-clue-solving AI (and the people who would kill for the technology).

But I digress.

I have AI on the brain today because I just checked out an AI-fueled competitive mini-crossword arena, and I have mixed feelings about it.

It’s called Crossword Race, and it uses AI to generate 5×5 mini-crosswords, clue them, and load them up for solvers to complete in as fast a time as possible.

Yes, the cluing is very bland and overly technical (feeling more like oddly-worded dictionary definitions), but there seems to be a genuine desire to build and serve a puzzle-solving community.

And I can see the value.

If you’re a puzzler trying to get better at solving — especially if you have friends posting their mini-crossword results on the daily — this is a safe space to practice your solving, your grid navigation, and shake off the nerves that come with any timed competitive endeavor. (You can create a profile to track your stats or play anonymously.)

But I’m also a writer, a puzzler, a content creator, and such push-button “creativity” gives me the ick. Beyond the soullessness that comes with so many AI creations that lack the heart and inspiration of human touch, there are already too many computer-generated crosswords these days with crap clues, poor fill, and frustrating Naticks/crossings that would stump the average solver.

I looked at a puzzle book from one of these companies a few years ago. I mean, it was almost impressive that one computer-generated puzzle managed to cram FIFTEEN abbreviations into a 13×13 grid, often crossing or piled together in corners. It was an abysmal solving experience.

Now, abysmal is not a fair word to use when discussing Crossword Race’s grids. Let me be fair here. I don’t like the cluing, but the grids are reliably filled with beginner-appropriate vocabulary.

And I want PuzzCulture to be a place where we discuss what’s going on in the world of puzzles. That includes AI.

So it’s up to you, fellow puzzlers, if you decide to use Crossword Race or not, or if Crossword Race is a net good for puzzlers worldwide. Time will tell, I suppose.

In the meantime, I wish you happy puzzling, folks! And remember to support your friendly neighborhood cruciverbalist! Sign up for a Patreon, buy a puzzle book, attend a crossword tournament, every little bit helps!