Is anyone else watching “Jeopardy!” this week, where past superstar humanoid contestants pit their knowledge against Watson, an IBM-programmed supercomputer?
It’s been a fascinating battle of wills, as Ken Jennings, who won 74 consecutive contests against other carbon-based life forms in 2004-2005, earning more than $2.5 million, is now trading trivia with a glowing orb. Is anyone else reminded of the creepy HAL from “2001: A Space Odyssey“?
I know I am. At any moment I expect HAL, err Watson, to say: “Look (Ken), I can see you’re really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over.”
In viewing the show, I can’t help but make the leap in train of thought to advisors versus machines. I know you’re all confident in your abilities to close the deal, but is there a supercomputer that could outsell you?