[TheZMan]

Ugh, always worries me when people do this kind of thing. It gives the uninitiated the false impression that there is such a thing as “real” AI.

[NonValueAdded]

while Jennings and Rutter said they would give half of their prize money away.

I believe that is called "taxes." I'll take "25%" for 1,000,000 Alex.

[Avery Iota Kracker]

Why not just have a computer do what Alex does, that would be easy. I’m sure it would do just as good a job, and not look smug while doing it.

[Future Snake Eater]

So what do they do with “Watson”? Hook a Cat5 into it, and have it Google every Jeopardy question? Chess is one thing—there are moves and counter-moves to study and predict. Jeopardy is just straight factoid knowledge.

[Charles Henrickson]

'Jeopardy' to pit humans against IBM machine

I propose an even greater challenge:

[The Cajun]

In the Jeopardy format, puter will kick their ass.

[screaminsunshine]

Open the door Hal.

[Bullish]

Danger! Will Robinson!

[BigCinBigD]

What is...Judgment Day?

Correct!

I’ll take bad ideas in science for a Thousand, Alex.

[Strk321]

I dunno, but Deep Blue sure made a fool out of Kasparov. He used to be interested in computer chess, but not after that. He should have played some old Windows 3.0 programs like GNU Chess and Winchess. Those things had amazingly stupid AIs.

Actually, the chess program included with Windows 7 is just as stupid, but the graphics are better.

[Tucker39]

As one of the last GIs to use Morse Code in military communication, it was of great interest to me about a month ago when some outfit held a contest between two guys communicating via Morse, and two other guys using cell phones to send text messages. The two teams were given identical messages to send back and forth.

The two guys using Morse did not use a standard telegraph key, but rather a semi-automatic mechanical speed device we called a “Bug” in the Army. The Morse Code guys got their messages sent back and forth, and then “had time for a sandwich” before the texters were finished! Hopefully the contest with “Watson” will have a similar outcome. Hoooaahh!!

[Jack Black]

The competition is reminiscent of when IBM developed a chess-playing computer to compete against chess champion Garry Kasparov in 1997.

The Kasparov "victory" was a farce. IBM had multiple chess grand masters and computer programmers reprogramming the machine between matches, possibly even between moves. It proved that a wildly smart team could beat one man. It was a shameful hollow victory.

Kasparov remains one of the greatest chess players of all time.

[Political Junkie Too]

What is "I love you, I hate you."

-PJ

[aynrandfreak]

I wonder if they can program the computer for the Before & After category. (i.e. “Who is Judge Judy Bloom”)

[freekitty]

Kind of like the $64,000 question.

[TChad]

IBM would not try this if they expected to be humiliated. Still, unless the question format is altered to give an advantage to the computer, I bet on the humans.

[HeartlandOfAmerica]

Actually, I'd like an agreement from both sides, ie: The Jeopardy team is to make no special changes to it's format or questions and the IBM side isn't allowed to have any contact with the machine at all once the game begins.

Yeah, call me a cynic. ;)