media: 'Jeopardy!' pits Humans Against Computer

[Dave (imported)]

>>no, not Will Smith in I ROBOT but the TV game show.

>>Nerds of the world unite and cheer on your fellow human being.

>>

'Jeopardy!' To Pit Humans Against Computer

DAVID BAUDER | 12/14/10 07:12 AM |

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/1 ... 96353.html

NEW YORK — The game show "Jeopardy!" will pit man versus machine this winter in a competition that will show how successful scientists are in creating a computer that can mimic human intelligence.

Two of the venerable game show's most successful champions – Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter – will play two games against "Watson," a computer program developed by IBM's artificial intelligence team. The matches will be spread over three days that will air Feb. 14-16, the game show said on Tuesday.

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

The "Jeopardy!" answer-and-question format is a different kind of challenge. It often requires contestants to deal with subtleties, puns and riddles and come up with answers fast.

"Watson" is named for IBM founder Thomas J. Watson. It will look nothing like the computer "maid" on "The Jetsons." Rather, IBM said its on-screen appearance will be represented by a round avatar.

The computer has already been tested in some 50 games against past "Jeopardy!" champions. But neither IBM nor "Jeopardy!" representatives would say what "Watson's" record was.

The winner gets a $1 million prize. IBM said it would donate its winnings to charity, while Jennings and Rutter said they would give half of their prize money away.

Jennings had the game show's longest winning streak, taking 74 games in a row during the 2004-2005 season. Rutter has won more money than any other "Jeopardy!" player, nearly $3.3 million during his original appearance and three subsequent tournaments.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/1 ... 96353.html

[Riverwind (imported)]

The computer may do OK in the anagrams and questions that have a factual answer, but somehow I think when it comes to abstract thinking the computer will fail. The reason for this is the Computer is still made up of 0 and 1 or if you like on and off, it does not have a maybe switch and no matter how much memory the computer has the human brain has more.

Now if they use the he who buzzes in first gets the question the computer would win because its reaction time will beat a human every day, but if its set up to ask a question so all three will get the same question, unknown to the others then I will bet on the humans.

The real question is does or will the computer have a sense of humor, a concept that I don't think you can program. "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" comes to mind. "Whats a funny?"

River