As we mentioned in an earlier Blog post, IBM has been developing a state-of-the-art question-answering computer system, named “Watson” (for Thomas J. Watson, the founder of IBM).
The basic computer hardware is a module from IBM’s “BlueGene” series, which, in the configuration used for this research project, would cost somewhat over $1,000,000. The software employs some state-of-the-art techniques for automatically extracting information from large files and databases. After completion of the project, IBM intends to market this system as an intelligent natural-language information query system. Potential uses range from a tool for online user support personnel to corporate planning and government.
Earlier this year, IBM and executives of the U.S. television show Jeopardy! announced that the Watson system would compete on the show with human contestants. Now it has been announced that the system will compete in a $1,000,000 tournament against Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter, the two most successful contestants in Jeopardy! history. The actual date of the contest has not been announced, but it will be televised on 14-16 February 2010. If IBM’s Jeopardy wins, the entire $1,000,000 will be donated to charity. If one of the humans wins, he will receive half, and the other half will be donated to charity.
Here are some examples of some of the question that the Watson system is currently capable of handling (faster than human contestants):
- [Category: “Postcards From the Edge”]: “Toured the Burj in this U.A.E. city. They say it’s the tallest tower in the world; looked over the ledge and lost my lunch.” [Answer: “What is Dubai?”]
- “He was presidentially pardoned on Sept. 8, 1974.” [Answer: “Who is Nixon?”]
- “In 1594 he took a job as a tax collector in Andalusia.” [Answer: “Who is Cervantes?”]
- “Thousands of prisoners in the Philippines re-enacted the moves of the video of this Michael Jackson hit.” [Answer: “What is ‘Thriller’?”]
- [Category: “All-Eddie Before & After”]: “A ‘Green Acres’ star goes existential (& French) as the author of ‘The Fall.'” [Answer: “Who is Eddie Albert Camus?”]
Additional details are available in our earlier Blog post, and in the two New York Times articles cited below.
References:
- [Stelter2010] Brian Stelter, “I.B.M. Supercomputer ‘Watson’ to Challenge ‘Jeopardy’ Stars,” New York Times, blog post, 14 Dec 2010, available at Online article.
- [Thompson2010] Clive Thompson, “What Is I.B.M.’s Watson?” (discusses IBM’s computer that is scheduled to compete on the TV show “Jeopardy”), New York Times, 14 Jun 2010, available at Online article.