Watson and Jeopardy

[John Myshrall]

On 11-02-16 10:40 AM, Colin McGregor wrote:
> On Wed, Feb 16, 2011 at 7:51 AM, Stewart C. Russell<scruss-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org>  wrote:
>> On 11-02-16 07:34 , John Myshrall wrote:
>>> I watched last nights episode. Very impressive.
>> Yeah, but now a computer can do it, it's another thing we don't need to.
>> Like long division.
> Well, I watched it as well. Good show, but of course where the
> computer got things wrong was arguably more interesting than where it
> was right, which last night included the final question. For those who
> don't watch Jeopardy, contestants have to come up with questions that
> would solicit the answers given by the show host, Alex Trebek...
>
> Last night's final answer was:
>
> U.S. CITIES: ITS LARGEST AIRPORT NAMED FOR A WORLD WAR II HERO; ITS
> SECOND LARGEST FOR A WORLD WAR II BATTLE
>
> The two human players came up with "What is Chicago?", the computer
> came up with "What is Toronto????". Now, the final answer didn't
> matter in this case, as the computer had built up enough of a lead in
> the first part of the program that a wrong question at the end didn't
> stop the machine from winning. Still, lets see, Toronto is:
>
> - Not a U.S. city
> - Largest airport named after former Prime Minister Person, who during
> World War II was a diplomat (not a World War II hero).
> - Officially the Island airport is named after Billy Bishop, a World
> War I (not World War II) fighter pilot and combat hero.
>
> In other words fails on all points. One could sort of understand a
> response like say New York City where two of the three points are
> satisfied:
>
> - A U.S. city
> - Largest airport  named after President Kennedy who during World War
> II commanded PT-109 and saw combat (so, not what he is best known for,
> but a World War II hero)
> - Second largest airport LaGuardia is named after a former Mayor
>
> Colin.
>
>> Kind of reminds me of this comic from a local artist:
>> <http://www.viruscomix.com/page490.html>
>> (caution, mild swearies)
>>
>>   Stewart
>> --
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>
OK I didn't let the cat out of the bag about what happened you did.  ;-)

I wonder if Watson was joking or being merciful if that is even remotely 
possible or that someone on IBM intervened. Watson pwned the entire 
match. IIRC the only other wrong answer it gave, the other contestants 
got wrong as well.

Toronto was so far out in left field it fails on the first litmus test. 
The answer was followed by many question marks and it only wager 
<$1000.00 yet it had a $25000.00 lead.

John



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