Crossword Genius

Disable a clever computer program within a couple of minutes (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

maim

'disable' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'a clever computer program within a couple of minutes' is the wordplay.
'a clever computer program' becomes 'ai' (abbreviation for artificial intelligence).
'within' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'a couple of' shows that letters should be duplicated.
'minutes' becomes 'm'.
'm' duplicated is 'mm'.
'ai' put inside 'mm' is 'MAIM'.

(Other definitions for maim that I've seen before include "Wound so that part of body is permanently damaged" , "Wound, injure, harm" , "seriously hurt!" , "Wound and cripple" , "Injure seriously, leaving permanent damage" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.
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