Is AI Really Working?
June 10, 2020
I am tempted to point out that Microsoft’s artificially intelligent editorial system made an error. Confusing mixed race singers and doing some fancy dance steps behind the scenes reminds me that the company cannot update Windows 10 reliably.
But the more interesting AI (smart software) story is IBM’s announcement to the US Congress no less that it is not in the facial recognition business. Adios has arrived. “IBM Is Canceling Its Facial Recognition Programs” reports:
In a letter to Congress on Monday (June 9, 2020), IBM CEO Arvind Krishna said the company wants to work with lawmakers to advance justice and racial equity through police reform, educational opportunities and the responsible use of technology.
What the write up and similar ones did not mention is that IBM is the proud owner of IBM Watson. The question is, “Why is Watson, the billion dollar poster child of smart software, not able to deliver facial recognition that passes muster?”
There’s the virtue signaling value, of course. But the reliability of Watson and other IBM “smart” technology has to be viewed as apparently falling short of the corn hole target?
The reference to bias is a convenient way to get around accuracy issues, training costs, and inability of Watson-infused IBM solutions to deliver a nicely grilled burger when serving up fresh-from-the-can Spam.
Please, recall that IBM Watson wrote a cookbook. No, there wasn’t a recipe for “spam” in the tome. But there was tamarind which seems to beg for baloney.
Stephen E Arnold, June 10, 2020
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