IBM’s Watson Takes One Small Step for a Computer

“Being able to compete well at “Jeopardy” against two of its
all-time best players may seem like a modest accomplishment for an
IBM supercomputer, but Watson, the machine that’s playing out a
three-day challenge on the TV show, may have bigger fish to fry
after it’s all said and done. IBM is working with scientists and
other experts on developing uses for Watson’s skills in healthcare,
financial services and government, for starters.

“Instantly sorting 15 trillion memory bytes to find the right
answer to a “Jeopardy” question: Elementary, my dear Watson.

“Or so an IBM (NYSE: IBM) supercomputer named “Watson” set out
to prove Monday, tackling trivia with the popular television game
show’s all-time human champs, Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings.

“”A four-letter word for the iron fitting on the hoof of a horse
or a card-dealing box in a casino,” was a US$400 answer host Alex
Trebek gave the trio. “What is a shoe?” Watson answered with a
question in “Jeopardy’s” famous format.”

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