A supercomputer programmed to think like the notorious Zodiac killer could help solve one of the most difficult cases in US law enforcement history.

A new artificial intelligence software designed to understand human language may be able to decipher secret messages left by the notorious serial killer who has evaded justice for decades.

The computer was commanded to think like the Zodiac and produced some creepy poetry when fed all the known writings of the elusive criminal, it was learned Thursday.

A University of Southern California professor created an artificial intelligence software that was designed to help crack the code of the Z340, the Zodiac killer’s famous cipher.

The ciphers, which were sent with letters to the police and newspapers in Northern California during the 1960s and 70s, contain letters and symbols that may hide clues as to the killer’s identity.

A supercomputer programmed to think like the notorious Zodiac killer (seen left) in a police sketch) produced some creepy poetry when fed all the known writings of the elusive serial killer. The computer was developed by USC Professor Kevin Knight (right)

Now the computer will be activated in hopes it can break the Zodiac’s code

The supercomputer has been programmed to think like the notorious Zodiac killer

The professor, Kevin Knight, invented CARMEL, a supercomputer that has been trained to understand and create human language using natural-language processing.

In 2011, CARMEL and Knight succeeded in decoding the Copiale Cipher, a hand-lettered 105-page manuscript from the late 18th century which was found to contain hidden messages about German secret society.

Now the computer will be activated in hopes it can break the Zodiac’s code, according to The History Channel.

Part of Knight’s research includes giving the supercomputer tasks like writing poetry with the mind of the Zodiac.

The results were downright frightening.

The computer has produced some creepy poetry when fed all the known writings of the elusive serial killer

One poem reads: ‘At the age of love, a love deranged,

‘A beauty from romantic interest,

‘The thought of love, and love became estranged.

‘Then the words of love became obsessed.

‘Surrounded by the troubled, by the thieving,

‘Confused and bruised and poisoned by the master,

‘Confused and blinded by the helpful scheming,

‘Confused and blinded by the dreadful slander…’

Another poem read: ‘Another party started getting heavy.

‘And never had a little bit of Bobby,

‘Or something going by the name of Eddie,

‘And got a finger on the trigger sloppy.’

Another poem entitled ‘Bipolar Depression’ reads: ‘Existence enters your entire nation.

‘A twisted mind reveals becoming manic,

‘An endless modern ending medication,

‘Another rotten soul becomes dynamic.

‘Or under pressure on genetic tests.

‘Surrounded by controlling my depression,

‘And only human torture never rests,

‘Or maybe you expect an easy lesson…’

A University of Southern California professor created an artificial intelligence software that was designed to help crack the code of the Z340, the Zodiac killer’s famous cipher (above)

The ciphers, which were sent with letters to the police and newspapers in Northern California during the 1960s and 70s, contain letters and symbols that may hide clues as to the killer’s identity. A 1969 edition of The San Francisco Chronicle receives a note from the Zodiac

In 1970, the San Francisco Bay Area was reeling from the attacks of a media-hungry serial killer dubbed the Zodiac.

He shot and stabbed seven people, five fatally, in a 10-month period, between December 1968 and October 1969.

The killings were random and did not conform to a neat pattern. A teenage couple was shot in a secluded lovers’ lane; a 29-year-old taxi driver was killed in a posh, densely-populated corner of San Francisco.

And the Zodiac, as he called himself, sent threatening letters to local media taunting the police department.

Many of his hand-written notes came with the proviso that if they weren’t front-page news, then more attacks would follow.

In one letter from 1974, the killer claimed to have murdered 37 people across California.

Unsolved cases linked to him include two teenagers killed on a beach near Santa Barbara and a nurse who disappeared near Lake Tahoe.

To this day, the Zodiac has not been unmasked and the case remains open in the San Francisco Police Department.