GoKawiilAI model GPT-6 Astra cracks century-old WWI German ADFGVX cipher
GPT-6 Astra decoded a previously unsolved German WWI radio message from November 27, 1918, one of dozens listed on Scienceblogs.de's catalog of unresolved ciphers. The AI used the ADFGVX encryption method with the key word 'TRUPPENVERSCHIEBUNG,' revealing a report about an English cruiser arriving at Sevastopol and an Allied squadron following on the 26th.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
This demonstrates that large language models can now assist or surpass traditional codebreaking methods on historical ciphers that resisted expert cryptanalysts like George Lasry for decades. It signals a new application for AI in historical research, potentially unlocking other unsolved documents from archives worldwide.
- GPT-6 Astra solved a WWI-era ADFGVX-encrypted German radio message left unsolved for over a century.
- The AI identified 'TRUPPENVERSCHIEBUNG' as the correct encryption keyword to build the cipher table.
- The decoded message reported Allied naval movements near Sevastopol just before the war's end.
Simon Singh's The Code Book — This book dives deep into the history of cryptography, including the kind of classical cipher techniques like ADFGVX discussed in this WWI codebreaking story. It's a great way to understand the puzzle-solving mindset behind both historic codebreakers and modern AI systems tackling old ciphers. Perfect for readers fascinated by the intersection of history, mathematics, and secret messages.
See Simon Singh's The Code Book on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: prinzai.com, 2026-09-19
Published there as: “GPT-6 Astra Solves a WWI German Radio Cipher”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.