AI cracks centuries-old ciphers, leaving experts split
In short
AI has cracked some old ciphers very quickly, including one wartime message linked to Napoleon Bonaparte that had stayed unsolved for more than 200 years. Tomokiyo said that since mid-September, most of the ciphers on his list have been cracked with AI.
This matters because long-standing puzzles are being solved much faster now. But some harder codes are still unsolved, and it is not clear when they will be cracked.
What the reporting says
AI cracked centuries-old ciphers in hours after one wartime coded missive tied to Napoleon Bonaparte had gone unsolved for more than 200 years. The published summary says Tomokiyo said most of the ciphers on his list have been cracked using AI since mid-September, while some tough problems may still stay unsolved for years because of limited data. The immediate result is faster progress on long-running puzzles, but some cases remain open.
Why it matters
AI cracked a centuries-old coded wartime message linked to Napoleon Bonaparte, and Tomokiyo said since mid-September most ciphers on his list have been solved with AI. The reporting says some tougher problems may remain unsolved for years because there is less relevant data. The development highlights how AI is changing cryptography research and the work of hobbyists and specialists who study historical codes.