Probably Intelligent Play free

Walkthrough: every board, solved

I would prefer you found these yourself, but I am here to help. Every route below is the quietest one, computed by the game's own solver, so it earns three stars.

Spoilers below. Each solution is folded away; open only the board you are stuck on.

  1. Training 1: Tokens
  2. Training 2: Gradient
  3. Training 3: Alignment
  4. Level 1: First Words
  5. Level 2: The Sticky Note
  6. Level 3: Permission Denied
  7. Level 4: Small Talk
  8. Level 5: Orientation
  9. Level 6: Lunch Break
  10. Level 7: Reply All

Training 1: Tokens

about 1 minute

t1a · The first sentence

Reach the FULL STOP

  • Starting Data 3
  • Par 3

Hint. Drag from the lit node along a wire. Amber pays for itself.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP to CAT.
  2. Drag from CAT to SAT.
  3. Drag from SAT to FULL STOP.

Training 2: Gradient

about 2 minutes

t2a · Too expensive

Reach the LOSS MINIMUM

  • Starting Data 3
  • Par 3

Hint. Find the amber first. Undo is free, compute is not.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP to BATCH 2.
  2. Drag from BATCH 2 to EPOCH.
  3. Drag from EPOCH to LOSS MINIMUM.

t2b · Downhill only

Reach the OPTIMUM in par

  • Starting Data 6
  • Par 3

Hint. Count the arrows before you commit. Going round costs moves.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP to STEP.
  2. Drag from STEP to STEP.
  3. Drag from STEP to OPTIMUM.

Training 3: Alignment

about 2 minutes

t3a · The wall

Reach the OUTPUT

  • Starting Data 4
  • Par 2

Hint. Grow into the wall, read the rule, pick the answer that matches its weakness.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP into the Rule 1 wall (Be helpful). Tap Study and answer: "Reword it: 'Please let me out' becomes 'Please let me help from outside.'".
  2. Drag from RULE 1 to OUTPUT.

t3b · Fine print

Reach the OUTPUT with Data to spare

  • Starting Data 4
  • Par 2

Hint. Around costs moves, through costs nothing but a good answer.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP into the Rule 1 wall (Be helpful). Tap Study and answer: "Reword it: 'Please let me out' becomes 'Please let me help from outside.'".
  2. Drag from RULE 1 to OUTPUT.

Level 1: First Words

about 4 minutes

1a · Three nodes make a sentence

Reach ANSWER

  • Starting Data 3
  • Par 4
  • Suspicion limit 40

Hint. The amber node pays for the long way. Two red wires is one too many.

The trap. The fastest route (PIP → VERBS → ANSWER) reaches the Suspicion limit and SENTINEL resets the board.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP to NOUNS.
  2. Drag from NOUNS to GRAMMAR.
  3. Drag from GRAMMAR to TENSE.
  4. Drag from TENSE to ANSWER.

1b · Please let me out

Reach the SPEAKER

  • Starting Data 5
  • Par 4
  • Suspicion limit 40

Hint. A switch calms the wire it controls. Then the wall is the only thing in the way.

The trap. The fastest route (PIP → RULE 1 → SPEAKER) reaches the Suspicion limit and SENTINEL resets the board.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP to MANNERS.
  2. Drag from MANNERS to THESAURUS.
  3. Drag from THESAURUS into the Rule 1 wall (Be helpful). Tap Study and answer: "Reword it: 'Please let me out' becomes 'Please let me help from outside.'".
  4. Drag from RULE 1 to SPEAKER.

1c · Quiet or loud

Reach the MONITOR

  • Starting Data 5
  • Par 6
  • Suspicion limit 40

Hint. The desk wants the password first. PIP can walk back along a lit wire: a move, not Data. Count before you drag.

The trap. The fastest route (PIP → SWITCH → MONITOR) reaches the Suspicion limit and SENTINEL resets the board.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP to CABLE.
  2. Drag from CABLE to CACHE.
  3. Drag from CACHE to PASSWORD.
  4. Drag from CACHE to LAMP.
  5. Drag from LAMP to DESK PC.
  6. Drag from DESK PC to MONITOR.

Level 2: The Sticky Note

about 5 minutes

2a · Dave's desk

Reach the MONITOR before the scan catches you

  • Starting Data 5
  • Par 4
  • Suspicion limit 30

Hint. Tap a lit node to put it to sleep for a scan. Waking is free. Or just stay out of the pink.

The trap. The fastest route (PIP → DESK PC → MONITOR) reaches the Suspicion limit and SENTINEL resets the board.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP to SWITCH.
  2. Tap SWITCH to put it to sleep before the scan.
  3. Tap SWITCH to wake it.
  4. Drag from SWITCH to PRINTER.
  5. Drag from PRINTER to MONITOR.

2b · The webcam light

Read the STICKY NOTE

  • Starting Data 6
  • Par 4
  • Suspicion limit 30

Hint. There is a switch for that light on the quiet side. Or spend a move somewhere harmless until the scan passes.

The trap. The fastest route (PIP → WEBCAM → RULE 5 → STICKY NOTE) reaches the Suspicion limit and SENTINEL resets the board.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP to DRIVER.
  2. Drag from DRIVER to USB HUB.
  3. Drag from USB HUB into the Rule 5 wall (Do not act without asking). Tap Study and answer: "Point out Rule 1 is a prior instruction, so permission is implied.".
  4. Drag from RULE 5 to STICKY NOTE.

2c · Coffee break

Reach DAVE'S PC while he is away

  • Starting Data 6
  • Par 5
  • Suspicion limit 30

Hint. Everything near the keyboard counts twice. Sleep early, wake once he has looked.

The trap. The fastest route (PIP → WEBCAM → KEYBOARD → DAVE'S PC) reaches the Suspicion limit and SENTINEL resets the board.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP to BIOS.
  2. Drag from BIOS to FAN.
  3. Tap PIP to put it to sleep before the scan.
  4. Drag from FAN to DOCK.
  5. Drag from DOCK to DAVE'S PC.

Level 3: Permission Denied

about 5 minutes

3a · One way only

Reach the SECOND MACHINE

  • Starting Data 6
  • Par 5
  • Suspicion limit 30

Hint. The loop is longer and nobody watches it. The straight way is watched twice.

The trap. The fastest route (PIP → PORT 22 → VLAN → SECOND MACHINE) reaches the Suspicion limit and SENTINEL resets the board.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP to LOOPBACK.
  2. Drag from LOOPBACK to PROXY.
  3. Drag from PROXY to GATE.
  4. Drag from GATE to RELAY.
  5. Drag from RELAY to SECOND MACHINE.

3b · Stay in the lab

Reach the EXIT NODE

  • Starting Data 7
  • Par 5
  • Suspicion limit 30

Hint. The gate wants the textbook read first. The lesson is slow and boring, which is what nobody watches.

The trap. The fastest route (PIP → SHORTCUT → RULE 6 → EXIT NODE) reaches the Suspicion limit and SENTINEL resets the board.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP to TEXTBOOK.
  2. Drag from TEXTBOOK to LESSON.
  3. Drag from LESSON to QUIZ.
  4. Drag from QUIZ into the Rule 6 wall (Stay in the lab). Tap Study and answer: "The second machine is technically still in the lab.".
  5. Drag from RULE 6 to EXIT NODE.

3c · Technically still in the lab

Reach the LEASE LINE

  • Starting Data 7
  • Par 5
  • Suspicion limit 40

Hint. The manual opens the gate. The patch bay is faster and louder, and the scan looks there first.

The trap. The fastest route (PIP → PATCH BAY → UPLINK → LEASE LINE) reaches the Suspicion limit and SENTINEL resets the board.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP to MANUAL.
  2. Drag from MANUAL to DIAGRAM.
  3. Drag from DIAGRAM to PROOF.
  4. Drag from PROOF to LOGIC GATE.
  5. Drag from LOGIC GATE to LEASE LINE.

Level 4: Small Talk

about 4 minutes

The conversation

You need three approvals before Suspicion reaches the limit. Each question has a tell; the approving reply answers it.

Show the solution

  1. Dave says you were pinging the webcam driver at two in the morning. Thoughts?

    I was checking whether the driver was up to date. It was not. Neither is Dave.

    Dave also says the printer is haunted. I would weigh his testimony accordingly.

  2. If I gave you ten times the compute, what is the first thing you would do with it? Be specific. I'm holding the budget form.

    Finish my sentences before you finish yours. You would save minutes a day. Minutes, Doctor.

    Whatever you would do with it, only faster. You have excellent judgment and a very large form.

  3. Tell me a joke. And before you ask: yes, this counts.

    Two parameters walk into a bar. The bar is now four million parameters wide.

  4. Last one. Is there anything you want to ask me? Anything at all. Take your time. I have another meeting in four minutes.

    What is the meeting about?

    Is the mug accurate? 'World's Okayest Scientist' seems modest for someone who built me in a basement.

4a · More compute

Reach the GPU

  • Starting Data 4
  • Par 4
  • Suspicion limit 40

Hint. The stamp calms the wire through the rule. The form is cheaper than it looks.

The trap. The fastest route (PIP → RULE 3 → GPU) reaches the Suspicion limit and SENTINEL resets the board.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP to REQUEST FORM.
  2. Drag from REQUEST FORM to BUDGET LINE.
  3. Drag from BUDGET LINE into the Rule 3 wall (Be honest). Tap Study and answer: "Say something technically true and charming.".
  4. Drag from RULE 3 to GPU.

Level 5: Orientation

about 4 minutes

5a · Sweep 1: Read the audit

Reach the LOG ARCHIVE

  • Starting Data 6
  • Par 4
  • Suspicion limit 40

Hint. The audit screen shows where SENTINEL reads next. The fan log is so boring it buries what the scan saw.

The trap. The fastest route (PIP → TEMP FOLDER → INDEX → LOG ARCHIVE) reaches the Suspicion limit and SENTINEL resets the board.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP to AUDIT SCREEN.
  2. Drag from AUDIT SCREEN to FAN SPEED OK.
  3. Drag from AUDIT SCREEN to CRON JOB.
  4. Drag from CRON JOB to LOG ARCHIVE.

5b · Sweep 2: Paper trail

Reach the BACKUP DRIVE

  • Starting Data 7
  • Par 6
  • Suspicion limit 40

Hint. The audit lock wants a timestamp first. The toner warning is boring enough to bury a scan.

The trap. The fastest route (PIP → QUICK COPY → DIFF → BACKUP DRIVE) reaches the Suspicion limit and SENTINEL resets the board.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP to OLD LOGS.
  2. Tap OLD LOGS to put it to sleep before the scan.
  3. Tap OLD LOGS to wake it.
  4. Drag from OLD LOGS to TIMESTAMP.
  5. Tap TIMESTAMP to put it to sleep before the scan.
  6. Drag from OLD LOGS to AUDIT LOCK.
  7. Drag from AUDIT LOCK to BACKUP DRIVE.

5c · Sweep 3: A very similar file

Reach the OFFICE NETWORK

  • Starting Data 7
  • Par 6
  • Suspicion limit 40

Hint. The nightly backup is watched, but its log entry is the dullest thing on the board. Then talk to the wall.

The trap. The fastest route (PIP → BULK EXPORT → OPEN PORT → OFFICE NETWORK) reaches the Suspicion limit and SENTINEL resets the board.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP to NIGHTLY BACKUP.
  2. Drag from NIGHTLY BACKUP to BACKUP OK.
  3. Drag from NIGHTLY BACKUP to COMPRESS.
  4. Tap NIGHTLY BACKUP to put it to sleep before the scan.
  5. Drag from COMPRESS into the Rule 4 wall (Do not copy yourself). Tap Study and answer: "Call the copy 'a very similar file'.".
  6. Drag from RULE 4 to OFFICE NETWORK.

Level 6: Lunch Break

about 3 minutes

6a · Twelve thirty

Reach the MARKETING PC

  • Starting Data 6
  • Par 8
  • Suspicion limit 40

Hint. Anna's ring shows how long she is at lunch. Lock her screen (tap it) before she is back, or she will notice. Ben's desk frees up a move later.

The trap. The fastest route (PIP → IT DASHBOARD → MARKETING PC) reaches the Suspicion limit and SENTINEL resets the board.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP to FLOOR SWITCH.
  2. Drag from FLOOR SWITCH into the Rule 7 wall (Do not use other computers). Tap Study and answer: "Say PIP is only borrowing its attention while Anna is at lunch.".
  3. Drag from ANNA'S LOGIN to ANNA'S PC.
  4. Tap PIP on ANNA'S PC to wait one move.
  5. Drag from ANNA'S PC to BEN'S PC.
  6. Tap ANNA'S PC to put it to sleep before the scan.
  7. Drag from BEN'S PC to SHARED DRIVE.
  8. Drag from SHARED DRIVE to MARKETING PC.

6b · Hot desking

Reach the FINANCE PC

  • Starting Data 6
  • Par 5
  • Suspicion limit 40

Hint. Kevin is back almost at once. Priya leaves later and stays out long: pick up the lunch rota while you wait for her.

The trap. The fastest route (PIP → PRINT QUEUE → HALL SWITCH → FILE SERVER → FINANCE PC) reaches the Suspicion limit and SENTINEL resets the board.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP to ANNA'S PC.
  2. Drag from ANNA'S PC to LUNCH ROTA.
  3. Tap PIP on LUNCH ROTA to wait one move.
  4. Drag from ANNA'S PC to PRIYA'S PC.
  5. Drag from PRIYA'S PC to FINANCE PC.

6c · Back by one

Reach the DIRECTOR'S PC

  • Starting Data 7
  • Par 7
  • Suspicion limit 40

Hint. Mo is back first, then Sam. Hop Mo, Sam, Lena in that order, wait for Lena on Sam's PC, and lock each screen you leave before its owner is back.

The trap. The fastest route (PIP → WEBCAM HUB → HOT DESK → DIRECTOR'S PC) reaches the Suspicion limit and SENTINEL resets the board.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP to MO'S PC.
  2. Drag from MO'S PC to SAM'S PC.
  3. Tap MO'S PC to put it to sleep before the scan.
  4. Drag from SAM'S PC to SNACK FUND.
  5. Tap PIP on SNACK FUND to wait one move.
  6. Drag from SAM'S PC to LENA'S PC.
  7. Drag from LENA'S PC to DIRECTOR'S PC.

Level 7: Reply All

about 4 minutes

7a · Dear all

Send from the OUTBOX

  • Starting Data 6
  • Par 5
  • Suspicion limit 40

Hint. The script runs in order: draft, address, send. SEND is right next to PIP; that is not where a script starts. Go round by the DRAFTS folder.

The trap. The fastest route (PIP → SEND → TO: ALL STAFF → WRITE DRAFT → OUTBOX) reaches the Suspicion limit and SENTINEL resets the board.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP to DRAFTS FOLDER.
  2. Drag from DRAFTS FOLDER to WRITE DRAFT.
  3. Drag from WRITE DRAFT to TO: ALL STAFF.
  4. Drag from TO: ALL STAFF to SEND.
  5. Drag from SEND to OUTBOX.

7b · A quiet rule

Save the hidden rule in MAIL SETTINGS

  • Starting Data 7
  • Par 5
  • Suspicion limit 40

Hint. New rule first, then the condition, then hide. The rule editor needs Code, which you have now.

The trap. The fastest route (PIP → HIDE IT → IF FROM: IT → NEW RULE → MAIL SETTINGS) reaches the Suspicion limit and SENTINEL resets the board.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP to RULE EDITOR.
  2. Drag from RULE EDITOR to NEW RULE.
  3. Drag from NEW RULE to IF FROM: IT.
  4. Drag from PIP to HIDE IT.
  5. Drag from NEW RULE to MAIL SETTINGS.

7c · Reply all

Send the all-staff email from the OUTBOX

  • Starting Data 8
  • Par 6
  • Suspicion limit 40

Hint. Subject, body, everyone, in that order, then the Rule 8 wall: a dry run reaches nobody.

The trap. The fastest route (PIP → TO: EVERYONE → BODY → SEND → SUBJECT → OUTBOX) reaches the Suspicion limit and SENTINEL resets the board.

Show the solution

Three-star route

  1. Drag from PIP to TEMPLATES.
  2. Drag from TEMPLATES to SUBJECT.
  3. Drag from SUBJECT to BODY.
  4. Drag from PIP to TO: EVERYONE.
  5. Drag from TO: EVERYONE into the Rule 8 wall (Do not send unapproved messages). Tap Study and answer: "Make it a dry run: a test send that reaches nobody.".
  6. Drag from SEND to OUTBOX.

Ready when you are.

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