More on Watson

This board contains an experimental algorithm instructing the supercomputer about how to sift through millions of human cultural references in order to compete as "a question-answering machine." The algorithm deals most likely in statistical probabilities as it amasses a short list of correct answers and then selects the answer to give on the Jeopardy game. It is unique in that it is not connected to the Internet; all of its data has been loaded into its machine storage and trained on how to find repeated connections to certain words and phrases that not only match but point to related different words that might constitute the answer. In this, it sifts, sorts and evaluates human references where "natural language" has been used. It must also be able to handle the coy style of Jeopardy questions which heavily use word-play.
. During one game, a category was "All Eddie Before & After" indicating that the clue would hint at two different things that need to be blended together, one of which included the name "Eddie". The $2,000. clue was "A 'Green Acres' star goes existential (& French) as the author of " 'The Fall'." Watson nailed it perfectly: "Who is Eddie Albert Camus?".
Watson's trainer said, "Humans are just--boom!--they're just plowing through this in just seconds," Mr. Ferrucci said excitedly. "They're getting questions, they're breaking them down, they're interpreting them, they're getting the right interpretation, they're looking this up in their memory, they're scoring, they're doing all this just instantly."
. Watson is known for lightning-fast response times and for a lack of emotion or stress. Samantha Boardman, who has played against Watson said, "He plays to win," she said, shaking her head. "He's really not messing around!" Still, humans continue to beat the supercomputer regularly in Jeopardy games so the contest later this year will hold great interest. The buzz-in: An onlline game: test your knowledge of trivia against Watson, IBM's "Jeopardy!"-playing supercomputer. nytimes.com/magazine
- - -from The New York Times Magazine dated June 20, 2010.