Watson.

For the last couple of days, I've been reading quite a while about Watson. If you're not familiar with that new entity, let me introduce you.

Watson is, approximately, an AI (Artificial Intelligence) created by IBM that can answer question asked in real language (not 0's or 1's) using a huge data bank. It's named after IBM's first president; Thomas J. Watson. Actually, it's competing in JEOPARDY! against 2 of the greatest players to ever compete in that show. And guess what, Watson is a hell of a player!

The 2 human competitors will give their total gains to charity, while IBM is splitting Watson's gains in 2 charity. It's a nice little twist, since everybody will win with that show!

Humanity, technology and maybe a new tool for future problems!

First, I was a bit skeptical about the whole AI thingy, being an Asimov reader for over a decade, the 3 laws of robotic are firmly anchored in my psych and I kinda see catastrophic events all over the place. Damn you, sometime, Asimov!

But anyway, Watson is one hot piece of computer engineering. It did screw up on some questions, but overall we can easily call that a nice step forward. Last time we heard about something like that was .....Deep Blue playing chess against Gasparov? 10 years ago? If not more!

One thing I can't wait about it what Watson will be used for after Jeopardy?

The Social Geek.