IBM Executive Talks ‘Jeopardy!’ Champ, Watson’s New Gig

What’s next after defeating two all-time champions on the game show “Jeopardy!”? If you’re a computer named Watson, you take on health care.

Barry K. Mason, vice president of global healthcare payers at IBM, will discuss “Life After Jeopardy: Watson in Health Care as a Diagnostic Tool,” at 5:30 p.m. April 25 in 003 Express Scripts Hall at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Considered a breakthrough in artificial intelligence, Watson is a computer system capable of answering questions posed in natural language. It made headlines in February 2011 when it became a champion on Jeopardy! Waston is now going to take on health care in it’s first real world application at IBM. By answering questions for physicians at the point of care, Watson could help improve health-care quality and reduce costly errors.

The event is sponsored by the Information Systems Area and the Information Systems Mentoring Program at UMSL. It’s free and open to the public. Pizza and beverages will be provided.