Jeopardy Challenge Ends With Humans Crushed

Watson's next job: medical diagnostics
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 16, 2011 11:03 PM CST
Jeopardy's Watson Challenge Ends WIth Humans Crushed
Ken Jennings, left, and Brad Rutter, right, pose with Watson after the end of the challenge.   (AP Photo/Jeopardy Productions, Inc.)

"I for one, welcome our new computer overlords," defeated Jeopardy contestant Ken Jennings wrote below his final answer as the game show's 3-day supercomputer challenge wrapped up. IBM's Watson finished way ahead with $77,147 while Jennings and Brad Rutter—the two most successful human contestants in Jeopardy history—finished with $24,000 and $21,600, reports Reuters.

Host Alex Trebek said he had learned three things from the supercomputer challenge. "One, Watson knows a lot of stuff and can really dominate a match. Two, Watson is capable of some weird wagers. The third thing I learned is that Toronto is now a US city," he said, referring to Watson's major error the previous day. IBM, which is donating all of Watson's winnings to charity, plans to adapt the technology for use in medical diagnostics. (More supercomputer stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X