IBM Watson on Jeopardy!

[highsea]

This is a must see- starting next Monday, a computer will take on 2 of the all time Jeopardy champions in a 3 game match.

NOVA had a special on this last nite. it was reallly amazing, the Jeopardy format is very challenging in that the clues involve all kinds of word plays, puns, etc. Watson will have 3 seconds to decypher the clue and derive the correct question.

If you're interested in AI, you don't want to miss this one. Watson will be completely stand alone, no internet connections, no humans in the loop.

[ArmchairGeneral]

Dang. Normally I don't miss having a tv at all.

[xinhui]

saw that in last week's NOVA, the programming logic (pattern recognition) is most interesting.

[highsea]

So round one ended in a tie, Watson pulled ahead in round two.

Final round tonite, winner gets a million bucks.

[random_reader]

I understand the programming logic to find the answers of questions asked; but there was something that piqued my interest, mainly Watson's reasoning for betting certain amounts in Double Jeopardies and Final Jeopardy. What kind of risk-benefit analysis did he perform in deciding how much to bet depending on the topic and the situation at hand? It seems that kind of thing is more abstract and potentially more difficult than just answering a question that contains complex sentences.

EDIT: Possible implications for business decisions perhaps in the future?

[USSWisconsin]

What will Watson do with the million bucks? buy itself a fancy oak cabinette? an expensive new cpu upgrade?

[random_reader]

What will Watson do with the million bucks? buy itself a fancy oak cabinette? an expensive new cpu upgrade?

Sir,

IBM stated they would donate the money to charity.

[bigross86]

Skynet is taking over!

[Tarek Morgen]

And I, for one, welcome our new computer overlord.

[random_reader]

And I, for one, welcome our new computer overlord.

I, for one, welcome our new computer overlord.

So does Mr. Jennings apparently.

[random_reader]

Anyways, I've been fascinated with Watson's risk-benefit analysis, particularly when he went from betting in the thousands for the first daily jeopardy then going down to $367 in the second daily jeopardy after he got the first one wrong. Is it too paranoid of me to think maybe Watson got cautious because of that previous mistake which would imply he's somewhat of a learner in such an abstract thought process?

[Bill]

I can't wait until the eggheads create a machine that will be smart and powerful and well armed enough to make us into slaves.

Because they are sure trying as hard as they can to do so.

Scientists are idiots.

[bigross86]

Bill, which would you prefer, the Zombie apocalypse or Skynet taking over?

[Bill]

I actually root for a zombie apocalypse. I'm totally ready for that. ;)

There is no preparing for a machine based Armageddon. None. It would simply mean the extinction of the human race, we would have absolutely no chance to fight back whatsoever.

And our scientists will absolutely not rest until they give us one.

We get closer every day.

[bigross86]

How about a massive EMP?