Weekly Watson: Extending Watson in Multiple Areas

November 11, 2015

I read “IBM Takes Watson Deeper Into Business Computing Field.” I like that word “deeper.” It suggests that Watson is already in the business computing field and now like a fracker is going even farther down the corporate bore hole.

The article is an interview with Robert High, who is vice president and chief technology officer of the IBM Watson Group. I highlighted three statements in the write up as quotes to note. These are real keepers, gentle reader.

First, I highlighted this statement:

All those services are designed to basically get in and understand various aspects of the human condition in all the different forms that we use to express ourselves. We want to help businesses better understand the transformative effects that cognitive computing can have on their business outcomes.

Ah, the human condition. A query on Google for the phrase returns pointers to crime literature. I like the “transformative effects” angle as well. I think the blend of Big Blue and actualization an interesting way to explain smart software. Google doesn’t do philosophy; Google open sources its smart software libraries.

Second, I put a light blue stroke next to the paragraph revealing the existence of “Watson West.” At Watson West, there will be a “Blue Mix” garage. Very trendy. The idea is:

The intent is to expand our presence in Silicon Valley, with a focus specifically on cognitive computing. We want to foster more relationships in Silicon Valley among entrepreneurs and startups and investors. Our intent is to integrate into that community, leverage that community and extend that community for the value for our clients.

The final segment I noted with a firm blue exclamation mark is this answer to the question, “What is the greatest success story for Watson thus far?” Notice that the question wants one concrete case example. The response is memorable:

It’s in multiple areas.

Okay. Watson’s greatest success is in multiple areas. No revenues, no specifics, just generalizations. After 14 consecutive quarters of declining revenue, IBM identifies a single success as fuzziness.

Stephen E Arnold, November 11, 2015

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