Instant Guide

Watson: First 'Jeopardy!'... now the doctor's office

The supercomputer made quick work of his human competitors on "Jeopardy!" Now his creators want Watson to help you stay healthy

IBM's supercomputer Watson conquered "Jeopardy!" by trouncing legendary champs Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter last week. Where does it go from here? The short answer is: The doctor's office. IBM has announced a deal with Nuance Communications Inc., along with the medical schools at Columbia University and University of Maryland, to develop Watson into a diagnostic tool for doctors. Here, a brief guide to Dr. Watson:

How would doctors use Watson?
Watson's analytical abilities will help doctors process and sift through information. The supercomputer's ability to pull relevant information from its massive memory bank in the blink of an eye will let physicians "rapidly consider all the related texts, reference materials, prior cases, and latest knowledge in journals and medical literature" so that they can quickly come up with informed diagnoses and treatment plans.

So this is a good thing, right?
"I think it's going to usher in the next generation of medicine," says Eliot Siegel, the vice chair of Maryland's department of diagnostic radiology, as quoted by TIME. "It takes me 20 minutes to an hour or more to read through a patient's electronic medical record. Having a computer understand and present the information to me is a huge step toward allowing me to make a better diagnosis. It is really the future of medicine."

But will machines replace doctors?
Some doctors are worried that medical professionals will become too dependent on computers. But Watson supporters say it will never replace human doctors; it will just help them do their jobs better. Siegel compares it to the popular medical TV show "House." Watson will be like one of the minor doctors helping Dr. House make a diagnosis, with the final call always coming from House.

When can I meet this Dr. Watson?
IBM says the first commercial version of the new "Jeopardy!" champ will be ready in 18 to 24 months.

Sources: TIME, Nuance.com, Network World

Recommended

Nvidia's meteoric rise
The Nvidia logo on a smartphone screen
Briefing

Nvidia's meteoric rise

Can the US stop Chinese cyberattacks?
A picture of a computer with code and a Chinese flag in the background
Today's big question

Can the US stop Chinese cyberattacks?

15 recent scientific breakthroughs
Petri dish illustration
In depth

15 recent scientific breakthroughs

Should the government be allowed to use facial recognition?
Surveillance camera.
Today's big question

Should the government be allowed to use facial recognition?

Most Popular

Air New Zealand to weigh international passengers as part of safety survey
An Air New Zealand plane takes off from Sydney, Australia.
Step on the Scale

Air New Zealand to weigh international passengers as part of safety survey

Thousands flock to Missouri to see body of nun who died in 2019
People wait in line to see the exhumed body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster.
drawing a crowd

Thousands flock to Missouri to see body of nun who died in 2019

Biden's reelection calculus
President Joe Biden
Briefing

Biden's reelection calculus