We like to win. No matter the forum, we humans want to win.

This desire dates back to our earliest days when competing over turf and resources was a literal life-or-death affair and success meant nothing less than survival. Millennia later, it's hard-wired in our DNA, one of our primal instincts.

The thirst is ever present. The sporting event, the board game, the war, the election, the girl, the guy, the poker hand, the club tournament, the trivia contest, the science fair, the lottery, the court case, the business deal, the gambling bet, the reality TV show. The list is endless.

Each of these contests has something in common: The contestant knows exactly what he or she is trying to win.

Which brings us to the global competition of the moment — the headlong rush to develop artificial intelligence. It's a race, we've been told over and over. And a race we have to win.

A roundup of highlights from Newsday's Opinion Department.

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