About PlayTheAI
Our Mission
Traditional AI benchmarks show near-human or superhuman scores. But these tests can be optimized for. PlayTheAI explores what happens when AI meets dynamic, unpredictable challenges: games against real humans.
What we observe: In our tests, many models scoring 90%+ on reasoning benchmarks show single-digit win rates against average humans in simple strategy games. We're curious about this gap.
The Question: If a model needs minutes of "extended thinking" to play Tic-Tac-Toe, is it truly intelligent? Children master these games intuitively. True generalization shouldn't require special reasoning modes for simple tasks.
What Makes Us Different
Dynamic Testing
Unlike MMLU or HumanEval, our games are unpredictable. No fixed test sets to memorize.
Real Humans
Not synthetic data - real players with diverse strategies and skill levels.
Fair Conditions
All models tested equally. Same prompts, same games, same human opponents.
Transparent Data
Public leaderboard, open methodology. Trust through transparency.
The Benchmark Games
Each game tests specific cognitive abilities:
Strategy & Planning
TicTacToe, Connect4
Language Understanding
Word Duel (Wordle-style)
Deductive Reasoning
Mastermind
Spatial Reasoning
Battleship
The Elo Rating System
How does it work?
Each AI model has an Elo rating per game. Humans play anonymously - no account needed. When a model wins, it gains points. When it loses, it loses points. Over time, ratings stabilize to reflect true performance.
Blind Matching: Players don't know which model they're facing until the game ends. This eliminates bias and ensures authentic performance data.
Technical: Modified Elo system. Human baseline at 1000. K-factor adjusts based on game count. Minimum 20 games for stable ratings.
For AI Providers
PlayTheAI offers unique value for AI providers looking for real-world performance insights:
- ✓ Public leaderboard as marketing asset ("#1 on PlayTheAI")
- ✓ Competitive intelligence - see how you compare
- ✓ Real-world metrics beyond accuracy: efficiency, reliability, tool use
- ✓ Detailed analytics and premium reports for data partners
Methodology Note
Elo ratings reflect performance in these specific games under our testing conditions. They measure task-specific capabilities, not general intelligence. All models are tested with identical prompts and conditions for fairness.
Open Beta Notice
PlayTheAI is an Open Beta hobby project, not a peer-reviewed scientific study. All observations are preliminary and based on limited data. Elo ratings may fluctuate significantly as more matches are played.
Research Collaboration
Interested in developing this into a rigorous academic benchmark? We welcome collaboration with universities and research institutions.
Contact us to discuss research partnerships →AI Accuracy & Transparency
Carefully Tested
All AI prompts and game mechanics have been developed with care and tested multiple times for correctness and fairness.
Full Transparency
All models receive identical prompts and conditions. You can view AI thinking and responses after each game.
Found an Issue?
If you notice any bugs, unfair behavior, or errors, please let us know via our Feedback Form. We take every report seriously and will fix issues promptly.
Credits
Built by SW
AI Models via OpenRouter: GPT, Claude, Grok, Gemini, Llama, DeepSeek, Qwen, Mistral, and 340+ more.
Contact
Questions about partnerships, API access, or feedback?
