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'Jeopardy!': IBM's Watson dominates Ken Jennings, turns attention to plotting our demise
The world is most definitely doomed.
"Jeopardy's" IBM challenge -- aka the unofficial pre-prequel to "Battlestar Galactica" -- ends its three night run on Feb. 16, with the toaster coming out on top.
Watson, the giant IBM computer, topped previous "Jeopardy" champs Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter, with $41,413 and a three-day total of $77,147. IBM will donate its $1 million in winnings to humanitarian groups World Vision and World Community Grid.
The final clue? "William Wilkinson's 'An account of the principalities of Wallachia and Modavia' inspired this author's most famous novel." All three competitors answered correctly with Bram Stroker -- though we suspect Watson was waffling about naming a Canadian writer.
A card until the very end, Jennings tagged a "Simpsons" quote onto his answer: "I for one welcome our new computer overlords." We sure have missed his nerd-isms and playful use of font.
It was an exciting three days, folks. Now, we turn to the series' "Teen Tournament," an arena Watson would really excel in. They go way too easy on those kids.
"Jeopardy's" IBM challenge -- aka the unofficial pre-prequel to "Battlestar Galactica" -- ends its three night run on Feb. 16, with the toaster coming out on top.
Watson, the giant IBM computer, topped previous "Jeopardy" champs Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter, with $41,413 and a three-day total of $77,147. IBM will donate its $1 million in winnings to humanitarian groups World Vision and World Community Grid.
The final clue? "William Wilkinson's 'An account of the principalities of Wallachia and Modavia' inspired this author's most famous novel." All three competitors answered correctly with Bram Stroker -- though we suspect Watson was waffling about naming a Canadian writer.
A card until the very end, Jennings tagged a "Simpsons" quote onto his answer: "I for one welcome our new computer overlords." We sure have missed his nerd-isms and playful use of font.
It was an exciting three days, folks. Now, we turn to the series' "Teen Tournament," an arena Watson would really excel in. They go way too easy on those kids.
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One day these Watsons will be running the world without any human interaction to boot.
The outcome was never in question given the computer's ability to react more quickly than a human. The "buzzers" are electronic. The two humans knew the answers, too.
Also, did you check out the "multiple choice" options the computer was given? Heck, I could have figured out the right answers from those choices, and I'm no Ken or Brad when it comes to intellect!
And, for our new computer overlords: I was rooting for the Cylons in Battlestar Galactica, once I became aware of all the human bigotry. :-D
Wow, you reaaaaalllly weren't paying attention, were you?
"The outcome was never in question given the computer's ability to react more quickly than a human."
Actually, if you had watched the NOVA episode on PBS last week, you would know that the outcome was very much in doubt because Watson had failed miserably in early trials and just barely won in subsequent ones that were held after improvements to its programming had been made. It wasn't just about buzzing in first - it was all about having the correct answer - something Watson didn't always have. In fact, just like a couple of its answer during the actual tournament, some of its answers were ridiculous.
"Also, did you check out the "multiple choice" options the computer was given? Heck, I could have figured out the right answers from those choices, and I'm no Ken or Brad when it comes to intellect!"
Those were not multiple choice answers that it was given. Those were the answers it was coming up with on its own and showing the percentage of correctness it had weighed them as. And if you noticed, several times when it wasn't the one answering, it had weighed an incorrect answer as being the one most likely to be correct. So, if it had buzzed through first, it wouldn't have been right.
I also think Watson had the advantage when it came to ringing in. As we know, the timing of ringing in is very important on Jeopary - ring in too soon and you are blocked, ring too late and obviously someone else can respond. Watson had the advantage of having the timing of ringing in programmed and it would be the same every time.