Show HN: PlayTheAI – Test AI models in strategy games (Open Beta) (playtheai.com)

PlayTheAI has launched an open beta to evaluate AI models through strategy games, presenting a fresh benchmarking methodology against human opponents. This initiative highlights significant limitations in current AI performance—such as Zhipu's GLM-4.7 and Anthropic’s Claude Haiku 4.5, which struggled to utilize feedback effectively in games like Mastermind—revealing persistent issues with output generation and feedback integration across varying model capabilities. The testing approach underscores how traditional benchmarks may provide misleading assessments of AI capabilities, as many models falter in real-time decision-making despite high scores in controlled environments. The beta evaluates several games including Connect4 and TicTacToe, aiming to expose weaknesses in reasoning and response times, critical for applications in fields such as robotics, autonomous vehicles, and customer service where immediate results are essential. Key observations include Google's Gemini 3 Flash showing promising responses in TicTacToe, suggesting advancements in spatial reasoning, while models like Grok 4.1 demonstrate that visual input can enhance game performance. By challenging AI in dynamic scenarios, PlayTheAI aims to offer valuable insights into true generalization and real-world applicability of AI, pushing the community toward developing models that perform robustly under realistic conditions.