Why couldn't the computer play tic-tac-toe EARLIER and learn not to play
Near the end, the computer is told to play tic-tac-toe by itself and it eventually learns that the only way to win is to not play. However, Dr. Falken mentions to the kids in his cabin in Oregon that he was never able to teach the computer that same lesson (to not play), though he himself, mentioned the example of tic-tac-toe to the kids first.
How come Dr. Falken didn't use tic-tac-toe earlier to teach the computer that to not play is the only way to win? Dr. Falken said he had been trying to teach it that, but failed.