IBM Research: An Inside Look
October 13, 2015
The Los Angeles Times may be on the ropes, but it ran an interesting story with the alluring title “A Peek Inside IBM’s Research Lab Points to the Shortcomings of Corporate R&D.” The information seems to come from an interview with a former laborer in the Big Blue Vineyards.
I noted several points which I found interesting:
First, the congeniality of IBM researchers:
“Bell evolved into a very competitive internal culture. People were really knocking against each other. Internal seminars were quite an ordeal because you were subjected to really heavy scrutiny. Internal dealings among scientists at IBM were much more congenial.”
Perhaps that is why no one at IBM Watson points out the silliness of the Jeopardy promotion, the notion that newspaper readers grasp APIs, or Bob Dylan’s pitching cognitive computing. Congenial. Good.
Second, the role of physics and physicists. Now keep in mind that Google relies on physicists. Maybe not as much as the physicists would like, but the folks are there. Here’s the snippet about IBM and physics:
IBM still has a physics department, but at this point almost every physicist is somehow linked to a product plan or customer plan.
Yes, I knew it. The secret to a successful product and growing revenues is linking a physicist to a product used by a Jeopardy aficionado. Obvious.
Finally, the patent league table:
The corporation in 2014 notched its 22nd straight year leading the world in the number of patents granted, with 7,534 patents granted, absolutely smoking the competition. (Samsung was second, with 4,952; Microsoft and Google were well down the list with ranks of 5th and 8th, according to a reckoning by Fortune.)
I can hear the chant now, “We’re number one. We’re number one.” Perhaps IBM will adopt a Black Lace tune like Do the Conga to promote Watson. You know:
It’s conga It’s Watson night so join the party everyone. The night has just begun. Do do do. Come on and do the Watson. (Source: LyricsMania with inputs from the addled goose.)
Remember, we’re all having fun, Watson.
Stephen E Arnold, October 13, 2015
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