Finally Found: A Human That Can Beat Watson... And It Turns Out To Be Rep. Rush Holt

from the bow-down-to-the-superior-mind dept

While IBM's Watson obviously got a ton of attention for winning its big national TV challenge against two Jeopardy stars, apparently, IBM is taking the Jeopardy playing machine on tour, with a key stop being Congress. It got to play against a group of our elected officials... and one of them actually beat Watson. Say hello to Rep. Rush Holt -- who was a bit of a ringer, since he's actually a five-time Jeopardy champion. Holt apparently outscored Watson $8,600 to $6,200, though all the other Congressional Reps who went up against Watson were unable to master the computer. I guess this means that we should make Rep. Holt our new leader when the machines come to try to enslave us.
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Filed Under: ai, computers, game algorithms, jeopardy, rush holt, watson
Companies: ibm


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  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 2 Mar 2011 @ 2:01pm

    Are we sure about, Rep Holt?

    Has anyone asked him to describe in single words only the good things that come into his mind about his mother?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Derek Bredensteiner (profile), 2 Mar 2011 @ 2:02pm

    Props to Holt, but

    It was the first round only. I think I saw other people (like those working on the project) beat Watson in an early round during the exhibition matches also.

    He (Watson) seems to do well over the course of the game if given enough time to average out his miserable failures in a few select categories.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    umb231 (profile), 2 Mar 2011 @ 2:03pm

    I was pretty sure I read somewhere that the congress people were playing against a slowed down or reduced capacity version of Watson, but can't remember where I read it now... Making it possibly significantly less interesting depending on how reduced the capacity of the system was, but since it wasn't televised, I guess we'll never know.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 2 Mar 2011 @ 2:04pm

    Make him our leader because he can remember a bunch of trivia?

    Because memorizing trivia is the ultimate goal. One of many really great ideas found on techdirt.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 2 Mar 2011 @ 2:07pm

    The machines already have enslaved us.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 2 Mar 2011 @ 2:15pm

    Am I the only one who can see that all he is winning is the clicking of the signaling device? Any number of humans could beat him; the only advantage he has is super-human clicking ability.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      harbingerofdoom (profile), 2 Mar 2011 @ 3:10pm

      Re:

      not true... you have to not only have superhuman clicking ability but you still have to get the questions right as well.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    gojomo (profile), 2 Mar 2011 @ 2:22pm

    Cui bono?

    Are we sure IBM doesn't have some massive government contract pending in Holt's committee? :)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Quaker in a Basement, 2 Mar 2011 @ 2:25pm

    Yess!

    Holt is the only Quaker currently serving in Congress. Go Quakes!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    techinabox (profile), 2 Mar 2011 @ 2:33pm

    Well I think Rush Holt is the only rocket scientist in Congress.

    No, really! He has Ph.D. in physics and did research at Princeton.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Richard (profile), 2 Mar 2011 @ 3:56pm

    This is how you beat Watson

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Capitalist Lion Tamer (profile), 2 Mar 2011 @ 4:35pm

    Hell, even I can beat Watson...

    Just hand me that bat.

    (Look by the fax machine.)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    BuzzCoastin (profile), 2 Mar 2011 @ 5:14pm

    Watson threw the match!

    Watson threw the match so as to avoid the copyright issues associated with its database.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Aerilus, 2 Mar 2011 @ 8:18pm

    yes but he sponsored the Judicious Use of Surveillance Tools in Counterterrorism Efforts Act. from what i am reading on wikipedia (yes take it with a grain of salt)

    reading the summary of the bill i think we need to add him to the list with senator wyden

    Judicious Use of Surveillance Tools In Counterterrorism Efforts Act of 2009 or the JUSTICE Act - Revises requirements for the issuance of and public reporting on national security letters and for judicial review of requirements for nondisclosure of the receipt of a national security letter. Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) to revise requirements for obtaining orders for business records in counterterrorism investigations. Amends the federal criminal code to reduce from 30 to 7 days the period for notifying the target of a criminal investigation of the issuance of a search warrant. Prohibits the use of evidence in judicial and administrative proceedings if notice of a search warrant is delayed. Amends FISA to: (1) impose limits on roving electronic surveillance and the use of pen registers and trap and trace devices (devices for recording incoming and outgoing telephone numbers); (2) repeal provisions granting retroactive immunity to telecommunication providers for illegal disclosure of subscriber records; (3) prohibit the warrantless collection of certain communications of U.S. citizens known to reside in the United States; and (5) revise certain reporting and evidentiary requirements. Permits the recipient of a subpoena, order, or warrant issued under FISA to bring a challenge in either the district in which the subpoena, order, or warrant was issued or the district in which it was served. Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) redefine "domestic terrorism" as involving acts dangerous to human life that constitute a federal crime of terrorism; and (2) revise the crime of providing material support or resources to foreign terrorism organizations to require knowledge or intent that such support or resources will be used to carry out terrorist activity.

    http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-1686&tab=summary

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Aerilus, 2 Mar 2011 @ 8:22pm

      Re:

      on a related note the summary was written by the Congressional Research Service and the bill was also sponsored by senator Wyden as well as
      Daniel Akaka [D-HI]
      Jeff Bingaman [D-NM]
      Richard Durbin [D-IL]
      Frank Lautenberg [D-NJ]
      Robert Menéndez [D-NJ]
      Jeff Merkley [D-OR]

      Bernard Sanders [I-VT]
      Jon Tester [D-MT]
      Tom Udall [D-NM]
      Ron Wyden [D-OR]


      it didn't pass
      sorry for the long posts

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Not an Electronic Rodent (profile), 3 Mar 2011 @ 2:32am

    That depends

    I guess this means that we should make Rep. Holt our new leader when the machines come to try to enslave us.
    So he can out-think the machine, but how is he with an Uzi or a phased plasma rifle in 40watt range?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 3 Mar 2011 @ 5:39am

    One smart one. Sad.

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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