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AI Cracks 217-Year-Old Napoleon Letter
2 Oct
Summary
- An AI system successfully decrypted a 217-year-old coded letter from Napoleon.
- The letter contains crucial details on French and Austrian troop movements.
- AI used a simulated annealing technique for decryption, a feat humans hadn't achieved.
A coded letter from Napoleon Bonaparte, sealed in 1809, has finally been deciphered by artificial intelligence after 217 years.
The message, sent by Napoleon's stepson Eugène under his instructions to General Auguste de Marmont, remained a mystery due to the loss of its cipher.
AI engineer Carter Church employed OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra system, an advanced AI model, to transcribe and decode the 1300-character letter. This process took six hours, a task that had eluded human cryptographers for centuries.
The letter's contents revealed strategic details about French and Austrian troop movements and strengths on the eve of war. It instructed Marmont, stationed in modern-day Croatia, to prepare for a march, stating, "Austria will be attacked at once on every side. She is consequently hastening towards her ruin."
GPT-6 Astra utilized a "simulated annealing" technique, a trial-and-error method comparing potential word fits against Marmont's existing writings. This advancement showcases AI's rapid problem-solving capabilities, even in complex historical contexts.
This decryption enabled Marmont's army to effectively assist Napoleon in defeating Austria at the Battle of Wagram, leading to Marmont's promotion. The incident underscores AI's potential for historical research and code-breaking.
