I love that headline, even though it’s nothing to do with me or anyone I’m related to. Watson, in this case, is a computer – the computer that just whupped two legendary Jeopardy champions real good. They’re going to play again, I think, but Watson proved that a computer can understand idiomatic English, double entendre and even puns. I guess “understand” is not the right word. Its computing speed is just so awesomely fast and its answers so frequently correct that it seems like it understands.
Watson, in the process of kicking human butt at Jeopardy!
It’s a great leap forward in the search for artificial intelligence (AI), but I’m not worried about computers taking over the world. Watson did not feel any thrill at its own victory, it didn’t feel gratified, proud or excited that millions of people were cheering for it, and it wouldn’t have felt any disappointment or embarrassment at losing. It’s a computer. They don’t feel. The reason no computer is about to take over the world is because no computer wants to take over the world. And no computer ever will, unless some evil mad scientist programs one that way, which may be harder than you’d think. First, you’d have to define terms like “take over” and “world.”
It may make for an interesting science fiction plot but in real life we aren’t even close to that.
I see another form of artificial intelligence evolving, though. A hybrid intelligence. The desires, instincts and poetic sensibilities of human beings combined with the high speed computing skills of creatures like Watson (which was not connected to the internet at all during its Jeopardy game- he beat those two humans with his best hand tied behind his back) could bring tremendous benefits to the human race.
Say you want an answer to the question “How can we feed all of the people in the world?” People can put forth suggestions, and argue about the political ramifications and whatnot, but the computer can jump in whenever they make a blatantly false statement. It will know which foods have which vitamins, minerals, proteins, sugars and fats. It will know how many can be grown per acre in which kinds of soil and in what climates. It will be able to calculate the cheapest route to market from any point in the world to any other point in the world. There could be an endless feedback loop until there is a plan written, offered up to the human participants for amendments because a computer might suggest that half of the people of the world could eat the other half and the problem would be solved. It would be a solution, but not a popular one), and rewritten, several times if need be, until we have worked out a way to feed all the people in the world that everyone is happy with.
We could call it The Internet.
www.gurukalehuru.com 
“Watson” is really a bunch of hype! I’m amazed at how some of those who have written about Watson’s “success” are missing the essential reason for Watson’s performance: the only reason why Watson is doing so well is because it has electronic speed in applying its ring-in button. When all is said and done, I think this experiment will prove very little. The fact is that Jennings and Rutter know the answers to the questions as well. You can visibly see that they are attempting to ring in on each and every question. And if you extrapolate their right vs. wrong ratio from when they get to answer a question, their performance will outshine Watson’s by far. I would wager that Rutter and Jennings will reluctantly explain (reluctant because they don’t want to appear to be soar losers) that while they knew the answers, they couldn’t ring in faster than the electronic machine –which is not at all surprising. I’m sure that Jenning’s and Rutter’s ratio of right to wrong answers is better than Watson’s. They didn’t win because they don’t have electronic speed to ring-in.
Silicon chips, made out of sand
Can answer the questions much faster than Man
and though we may think we’re on top of God’s plan,
We’re really no smarter than sand
yes, computers could easily take over the logistics of feeding the world, distribution of money, provision of jobs and workers, educating all children equally from a few centralized educational centers/networks featuring the worlds best instructors, etc, etc. However, all that would take money out of the pockets of greedy business owners, agri-business leaders, farm subsidy recipients i.e. the Bush family in Texas and Florida, etc, etc….so it will never happen as long as uncontrolled capitalism is allowed.
Good one, Dennis! Is that yours?
Jean, Yes, therein lies the problem
Dan, the amazing thing was that a computer could compete in this kind of game at all
Yes