The clue: It's the size of 10 refrigerators, has access to the equivalent of 200 million pages of information and knows how to answer in the form of a question.
The correct response: "What is the computer IBM developed to become a 'Jeopardy!' whiz?"
Watson, which IBM claims as a profound advance in artificial intelligence, edged out game-show champions Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter on Thursday in its first public test, a short practice round ahead of a million-dollar tournament that will be televised next month.
Later, the human contestants made jokes about the "Terminator" movies and robots from the future. Indeed, four questions into the round you had to wonder if the rise of the machines was already upon us -- in a trivial sense at least.
Watson tore through a category about female archaeologists, repeatedly activating a mechanical button before either Ken Jennings or Brad Rutter could buzz in, then nailing the questions: "What is Jericho?" "What is Crete?"
Its gentle male voice even scored a laugh when it said, "Let's finish 'Chicks Dig Me.'"
We are so screwed. Have generations of science fiction taught us nothing about AI, people?
In all seriousness this is a hell of a Jeopardy matchup, but I'm pulling for the humans, frankly. I can't wait for the SNL Celebrity Jeopardy version of Watson versus Sean Connery and Burt Reynolds (hint hint, Lorne Michaels.)
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