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Gargamel
02-16-11, 12:30 AM
http://news.discovery.com/tech/ibm-computer-jeopardy-champ-tied-110215.html

So in the vein of Deep Blue, IBM has created a super-computer that can compete on Jeopardy. I watched the second of the 3 nights tonight, and was thoroughly impressed. I can usually answer 1/2 to 2/3 of the Questions on Jeopardy, but this thing was fast.

Then it got a daily double and put up some weird amount, something like a wager of $6,345, which left everybody chuckling.

Then came final Jeopardy. Watson was up like 20k to 5k each. The Clue was "US Cities".

The Answer was "What city's two largest Airports are named after a WWII Hero and a WWII Battle."

Spoiler.
.
.
.
.

I knew It was Chicago (O'Hare and Midway), and so did Jennings and Rutter, but Watson answered "Toronto??????" :o:doh::hmmm:. But then It had only wagered $600.

It's absolutely amazing watching this. I do think it is too fast, as Watson gets the question as a text message while Trebec reads it aloud. I think there needs to be some delay as Watson was almost first to the buzzer.

If you have time, watch it tommorow (Wednesday) night.

CCIP
02-16-11, 12:38 AM
Yep, really cool. One of the people I work and talk with regularly (a professor working in natural language generation) was interviewed about the technology behind this machine, not sure if you would've seen him on air yet (since I don't own a TV).

magic452
02-16-11, 02:17 AM
It was pretty impressive but I agree that there needs to be some kind of delay to account for human reaction in pressing the buzzer.
The clues seemed to be very much the same as normal. Don't think it was slanted to Watson's favor.

Now if we could put that kind of computing power into a Sub Sim, we would really have something. :yeah: :yeah:

Magic

Takeda Shingen
02-16-11, 07:29 AM
I've been watching this as well, and it does that that whole Deep Blue v Kasparov feel. It really has been very interesting.

Aramike
02-16-11, 07:36 AM
I've been watching this as well. The linguistics side of this is amazing, and the applications for this technology are endless.

Buddahaid
02-16-11, 12:32 PM
It was confused because neither of those airports are "in" Chicago.

CCIP
02-16-11, 12:36 PM
It was confused because neither of those airports are "in" Chicago.

I forget about Midway, but O'Hare is. The land was acquired by the City of Chicago and is connected to the city by a land corridor the width of the highway to the airport - but it is entirely Chicago. Rosemont is just kind of along the way there. I have the impression Midway may have the same sort of deal.

Gargamel
02-16-11, 04:09 PM
It was confused because neither of those airports are "in" Chicago.

It's because they are associated with the city. IIRC (and please correct me here, its been 15 years since I've been there) it's kinda like Heathrow, I don't beleive it was actually inside London, but it's still London's airport.

EDIT: Just checked, it says greater London.... but is that still London?

UnderseaLcpl
02-16-11, 04:13 PM
EDIT: Just checked, it says greater London.... but is that still London?

No. Nothing about London is great.

Takeda Shingen
02-16-11, 04:21 PM
I enjoyed my time in London; thought it was a nice city.

Gargamel
02-16-11, 05:06 PM
http://news.discovery.com/tech/computer-crushes-human-jeopardy-champs-110216.html

SgtPotato
02-16-11, 06:35 PM
Next is Skynet.

FIREWALL
02-16-11, 07:08 PM
Next is Skynet.


:haha:

Takeda Shingen
02-16-11, 07:28 PM
Jeez. Watson killed those two.

Platapus
02-16-11, 07:37 PM
I have not seen the program but exactly how is the computer getting the questions?

Still pretty impressive for a machine.

Takeda Shingen
02-16-11, 07:43 PM
I have not seen the program but exactly how is the computer getting the questions?

Still pretty impressive for a machine.

Gets it instantly via text message.

Gargamel
02-16-11, 07:59 PM
Via a text message as it's revealed to the players.

I thought Jennings was going to beat Watson down with a baseball bat.

He sure didn't seem to welcome the computer overlords.

mookiemookie
02-16-11, 08:29 PM
Ken Jennings is hilarious:

The Watson team told me two things after the match: that the idea for Watson was born after watching my 2004 streak on Jeopardy, and that they watched LOTS of tape of me while honing its skills. "There's a lot of you in Watson," one guy said. So I already feel like the Dr. Frankenstein here. If it goes amuck and kills humanity and stuff so sorry lolz my bad!

http://live.washingtonpost.com/jeopardy-ken-jennings.html?hpid=talkbox1

Gargamel
02-16-11, 08:54 PM
Good link Mookie, interesting read.

Betonov
02-17-11, 05:58 AM
Well, eve Watson can make a mistake :-?

http://image.24ur.com/media/images///600xX/Feb2011//60616914.jpg

Watson ansered Serbia... WRONG!!!!
It's Slovenia

C'mon, were used to where the heck is Slovenia jokes, but a computer ???

SgtPotato
02-17-11, 12:31 PM
http://blogs.discovery.com/.a/6a00d8341bf67c53ef0147e2a2c381970b-800wi
Oh Ken, you're so crazy.

Platapus
02-17-11, 04:45 PM
What if his response to Final Jeopardy is

This is the voice of World Control. I bring you peace. It may be the Peace of Plenty and Content or the Peace of Unburied Death.

gulp :o

Gargamel
02-17-11, 09:36 PM
Real humans know where Toronto is.