What is IBM Watson?.
Watson is an IBM supercomputer that combines artificial intelligence (AI) and sophisticated analytical software for optimal performance as a “question answering” machine. This supercomputer processes at a rate of 80 teraflops (trillion floating point operations per second). Watson accesses 90 servers with a combined data store of over 200 million pages of information to replicate (or surpass) a high-functioning human’s ability to answer questions.
| Maintained by | License Type | Popular Examples | Support | Updates | Developer Skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBM laboratory | Apache 2.0 License. | – | ibm.com/communities/analytics/watson-analytics/support | – | – |
| Often Compared to | Testing | Accessibility | Maintained by | Repository |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensorflow, Dialog flow | ibm ignite | – | IBM laboratory | github.com/watson-developer-cloud |
Pros:
- Processes unstructured data.
- Fills human limitations.
- Acts as a decision support system, doesn’t replace humans.
- Capability to handle enormous quantities of data.
- Sustainable Competitive Advantage.
Cons:
- Only in English (Limits areas of use.
- Seen as disruptive technology.
- Maintenance.
- Doesn’t process structured data directly.
- Increasing rate of data, with limited resources.