A supercomputer is taking on humans in a hacking contest at DEF CON

Can a supercomputer beat humans in a hacking contest? We’re about to find out.

For the first time, a fully automated supercomputer is trying to compete with humans in a major hacking contest, and so far the machine is hanging in there.

The supercomputer, known as Mayhem, is among the teams taking part in this year’s Capture the Flag contest at the DEF CON security conference in Las Vegas.

The game involves detecting vulnerabilities in software and patching them, and humans have been playing it at DEF CON for years.

Now computers are getting in on the act. DARPA, a U.S. defense agency, recently held an all-machine competition, awarding $ 2 million to the team that did best.

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