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

Wed, Mar 2nd 2011 1:44pm — Mike Masnick

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

24 Comments

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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Anonymous Coward, 2 Mar 2011 @ 2:07pm

The machines already have enslaved us.
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Mike Masnick (profile), 2 Mar 2011 @ 2:09pm

Re:
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.

Please recalibrate your humor sensors.
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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.
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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? :)
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Quaker in a Basement, 2 Mar 2011 @ 2:25pm

Yess!
Holt is the only Quaker currently serving in Congress. Go Quakes!
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Dark Helmet (profile), 2 Mar 2011 @ 2:29pm

Re: Re:
"Please recalibrate your humor sensors."

Linguo....dead?

"Linguo...*is*...dead...."
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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.
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Anonymous Coward, 2 Mar 2011 @ 2:41pm

Re: Re:
Please recalibrate your BS generator.
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The eejit (profile), 2 Mar 2011 @ 2:48pm

Re:
Be a better method than the current one, where the corporatocracy pays the people in power for them to stay there.
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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.
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harbingerofdoom (profile), 2 Mar 2011 @ 3:12pm

Re: Re: Re:
there's one in every crowd...

....two in this one so far....
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Richard (profile), 2 Mar 2011 @ 3:56pm

This is how you beat Watson
Its easy
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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.)
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Jose_X, 2 Mar 2011 @ 4:40pm

Re:
Probably only 12,600,000,000 processors
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Jose_X, 2 Mar 2011 @ 4:47pm

Re: This is how you beat Watson
..i'm still laughing
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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.
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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
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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 Men�ndez [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
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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?
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Anonymous Coward, 3 Mar 2011 @ 5:39am

One smart one. Sad.
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