there are 2 points: 1. for research reasons, provided all the entrants were open source and full disclosure. John McCarthy (the father of AI) pointed out many years ago (footage featured in my movie "computer Go to come"), it would be like a one-design sailboat competition, so that it would be the cleverest one that won, not just the biggest brute. So that everyone could have a clearer idea of what made the difference in that edition of the competition, and so all could build on the latest improvement instead of having to play catch-up which is not just onerous for the catcher-uppers, it's also boring for the watching crowd.
2. for entertainment reasons. the Colosseum would not have been as popular if the gladiators were sent in unarmed against lions (btw, neither were Christians, that's just another piece of fake history invented by spin doctors). Football would not be popular if teams of three were pitted against teams of 2300. one-design and America's cup are not alternatives, they are brothers, for each has something to contribute to scientific and technological progress.
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