Artificial Intelligence around the corner?

The media has celebrated IBM's 'Watson' program after its recent win in popular US TV game show Jeopardy. But should we temper this success with a more pragmatic view of the so called 'intelligence' of what is after all, simply a computer program?

...and why isn't AI or artificial intelligence ready for the real world, if indeed it is possible in the first place? Watson doesn't know what the questions mean. Watson doesn't know if it is right or wrong. Watson can't explain why its answers might be right or wrong. Watson doesn't care about winning or losing, or feel responsible for its success or failure. Watson doesn't think or come up with a new idea. Watson can't ask original meaningful questions that matter to it. Watson doesn't care.

Articles

• IBM team that developed Watson (online at reddit.com)
• IBM Press kit "Watson to challenge humans at Jeopardy" (ibm.com)
• Irish Times (online) 19th Feb
• Watson thick as two planks: critique/comments on CW (www.computerworld.com)