I have toyed with the idea of training an AI system to help solve UK cryptic crosswords. In these crosswords, found in newspapers such as The Times of London,

I have toyed with the idea of training an AI system to help solve UK cryptic crosswords. In these crosswords, found in newspapers such as The Times of London, the answers to clues are defined by words or phrases at the start or end of the clue (for the vast majority of clues – occasionally it’s both, a double definition, or the whole clue is the definition). Half the battle is guessing which part of the clue is the definition (the rest of it bring some kind of hint, such as an anagram). I bet an AI system could learn some rules that would help you decide if you should be focusing on the start or the end. There’s a blog called Times for the Times where people helpfully upload annotated answers, underlining the part of the clue that is the definition. Point would be to learn new strategies to use as a human, not just to create an AI solver.