Watson, the IBM computer that recorded and analyzed millions of pages of data to beat humans in “Jeopardy!,” may be female, judging by how IBM CEO Ginni Rometty reacted to a question from an audience member after giving a speech last night.

McKinsey & Co.’s Rik Kirkland asked:

“I want to hear more about Watson. Watson is no longer the world’s most famous game-playing computer, you’ve put him to work. What are you learning from his, or its — “

Rometty interjected:

“Her? Her? Her?”

Kirkland then corrected himself:

“– Exactly, her. What are you learning from her early experiences in the workplace?”

Watch the video of this exchange, which is at 48 minutes, 28 seconds.

Original post is Is IBM’s Watson a Woman? by Tech Blog.

Courtesy John Day via IBM

IBM’s Watson computer system came up with its recipe for Spanish crescents based on academic research.

Attendees of IBM’s investor meeting today noshed on Spanish almond crescents, Australian grilled asparagus and veal croquettes crafted by perhaps the most overqualified chef in the world.

The meal was designed by Watson, the artificial-intelligence computer system that outwitted “Jeopardy!” champions in 2011 and is now trying to treat cancer. Showoff.

Novel recipes, compiled through analyses of academic material, aren’t likely to be a big moneymaker for the world’s largest computer-services provider. IBM’s haute cuisine was meant to show how Watson’s data-driven approach can be applied to other fields.

Watson has competition in the kitchen. One startup, Food Genius, tracks menu items and their popularity to analyze successful flavor combinations for the restaurant industry.

For the Spanish crescent served at the meeting in IBM’s San Jose, California-based research lab, Watson analyzed chemical compounds and data on human preferences to come up with a dish that combined saffron, pepper, honey and chocolate. IBM collaborated with chefs at the Institute of Culinary Education, who provided textbooks and journal articles for Watson to ingest.

But Watson isn’t well versed at working a mixer. The meal was cooked by a human.

Fear not, Emeril Lagasse. There will still be a job for you.

Original post is IBM Uses Investors as Guinea Pigs for Computer-Designed Meal by Tech Blog.

Photograph by Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

IBM CEO Ginni Rometty has made Africa a big priority for the company.

IBM CEO Ginni Rometty has visited Africa twice in the past six months. She’s taken her entire executive team there. She’s told IBM’s investors, customers and the general public about the potential to transform the continent’s businesses and governments through technology.

Expansion there is clearly a priority for the company, but how much of a priority?

As reported in Bloomberg Businessweek today, IBM expects revenue in Africa to more than double, surpassing $1 billion by 2015, according to an industry consultant who declined to be identified. By comparison, IBM started a push in India in 1992 and passed $1 billion in revenue in 2007. The push in Africa started around 2010. That means in five years, IBM may achieve in Africa what took it 15 years to do in India.

In 2012, IBM pulled in about $400 million in Africa, the person said. That’s less than 1 percent of its $104.5 billion in overall revenue last year. But if IBM meets its goals, Africa will provide the company some of its fastest-growing opportunities.

Ed Barbini, a spokesman for IBM, declined to comment on the revenue projections.

The number of African countries where the company has full operations has expanded to more than 20 from just four in 2006. IBM now does business, either directly or through partners, in about 45 of the continent’s countries.

For those unconvinced about the opportunity, Mark Dean,  IBM’s chief technology officer for the Middle East and Africa, has something to say.

“I personally believe that of all the things I’ve done, this could have the most impact on the globe,” he said during an interview in Dubai.

Dean, if you didn’t know, was one of the inventors of IBM’s personal computer.

Original post is IBM Is Big on Africa — But How Big? by Tech Blog.