Andre Yoskowitz
7 Feb 2011 0:53
IBM's supercomputer "Watson," set to take on human contestants on "Jeopardy" this month, has beaten its two competitors in a quick practice round.
Watson will take on all-time champions Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter.
In 2005, Ken Jennings won 74 straight games en route to $2.5 million in earnings. Rutter did not win as many games, but took home $3.2 million, the highest ever.
Watson will take on Rutter and Jennings over a three-day period and the winner will receive $1 million. Second place gets $300,000 and third gets $200,000. IBM will donate all their winnings to charity and Jennings and Rutter will donate half.
IBM says the supercomputer will not have Internet access, but is loaded with a massive database "covering topics from history to entertainment." The computer can even "differentiate between literal and metaphorical expressions and understand puns and slang."
In the practice round, Watson beat out Jennings and Rutter, taking $4400 in the round to Jennings $3400 and Rutter's $1200.
The real competition starts on February 14th.