Rise of the machine: I.B.M.'s Watson supercomputer

I.B.M.'s 'Jeopardy!'-playing supercomputer blurs the lines between human and machine

Google beware: I.B.M has created a new supercomputer that has been touted as the "world's most advanced 'question answering' machine." Named "Watson," after two of the company's former presidents, the powerful computer possesses an unprecedented ability to understand questions asked in "natural" human language, and reply with the correct answer. To showcase its abilities, reports Clive Thompson in The New York Times, I.B.M recently pitted Watson against a group of former "Jeopardy!" contestants, who often lost to the machine. Watson will even make an appearance on the trivia program this fall. Will consumers be able to get their own computerized "brain" one day? (See the supercomputer up close.) Following, a quick guide:

Why is Watson impressive?

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