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IBM’s AI Watson learns Korean

Posted April. 22, 2016 07:42,   

Updated April. 22, 2016 07:48

한국어
“Watson artificial intelligence (AI) will soon be able to understand Korean,” David Kenny, general manager of IBM Watson business, said on his first visit to Korea on Thursday.

Watson is said to learn Korean by watching TV shows and movies, and reading newspapers just as any other kids are learning languages. Having acquired the language proficiency of English, Spanish and Japanese, it is expected that Watson would offer a variety of AI services to Korea when it masters Korean.

Former The Weather Company CEO, David Kenny has been in charge of IBM’s Watson platform business since early this year. His relationship with IBM began when the company acquired the digital and data assets of The Weather Company at some 2 billion U.S. dollars. Back then, attention was drawn to his appointment, as the CEO of the acquired company was assigned to head IBM's key business unit.

IBM made much effort to sell its Watson system to companies and hospitals in Korea but none of them was led to actual contract signing yet. As another AI system AlphaGo became a global sensation in March, however, the interest in AI has rapidly grown in Korea in various organizations, such as businesses, hospitals and universities. It is said that Kenny’s visit to Korea is aimed at promoting partnerships between IBM and Korean companies.

“Watson will cooperate with human in certain areas by learning. IBM doesn’t plan to develop (versatile) AI that can do just any work as humans do,” said the IBM executive. “It is not likely that super AI, which could threaten us, will appear in the future.”



정세진기자 mint4a@donga.com