IBM launched on January 9, 2014 its first business unit in 19 years to bring Watson, the machine that beat two Jeopardy champions in 2011, to the rest of us. IBM posits that Watson is the start of a third era in computing that started with manual tabulation, progressed to programmable, and now has become cognitive. Cognitive computing listens, learns, converses, and makes recommendations based on evidence.

IBM is placing big bets and big money, $1 billion, on transforming computer interaction from tabulation and programming to deep engagement.  If they succeed, our interaction with technology will truly be personal through interactions and natural conversations that are suggestive, supportive, and as Terry Jones of Kayak explained, "makes you feel good" about the experience.

There are still hurdles for IBM and organizations, such as expense, complexity, information access, coping with ambiguity and context, the supervision of learning, and the implications of suggestions that are  unrecognized today. To work, the ecosystem has to be open and communal. Investment is needed beyond the platform for applications and devices to deliver on Watson value.  IBM's commitment and leadership are in place. The question is if IBM and its partners can scale Watson to be something more than a complex custom solution to become a truly transformative approach to businesses and our way of life. 

Forrester believes that cognitive computing has the potential to address important problems that are unmet with today’s advanced analytics solutions. Though the road ahead is unmapped, IBM has now elevated its commitment to bring cognitive computing to life through this new business unit and the help of one third of its research organization, an ecosystem of partners, and pioneer companies willing to teach their private Watsons.

For Forrester’s take on the IBM Watson announcement and what it means, go to Forrester.com and read our Quick Take.

Forrester sees cognitive computing as the latest chapter in advanced analytics and artificial intelligence.  With this quick take analysis, we are initiating coverage of cognitive computing. If you are a vendor with a technology take on cognitive computing or a company with experience or interest in harnessing cognitive computing’s potential, please let us know. Together, we can identify the real business value, target the best technology components and suppliers, and convey practical guidance on how and where to get started with cognitive computing.

In the meantime, here are links to blogs and articles we find interesting on IBM Watson and cognitive computing overall:

Scientific American – Brainy Watson Computer To Tackle Cancer And Other Medical Research  
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2014/01/09/brainy-watson-computer-to-tackle-cancer-and-other-medical-research/

The New Yorker – A Date With Watson 
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2011/02/seabrook-jeopardy-watson.html

Wired.com- Exploring The Impact Of Cognitive Computers 
http://www.wired.com/insights/2013/11/exploring-the-impact-of-cognitive-computers/

NPR-Watson, IBM's 'Jeopardy!' Champ, Gets Its Own Business Division  
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/01/09/261075896/watson-ibms-jeopardy-champ-gets-its-own-business-division

Bloomberg- IBM’s Watson to Help Rich DBS Clients With ‘Jeopardy’ Smarts 
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-09/ibm-carves-out-1-billion-new-unit-for-jeopardy-champ-watson.html

Seeking Alpha – IBM Must Sell Amid Watson Problems
http://seekingalpha.com/article/1934911-ibm-must-sell-amid-watson-problems?source=email_rt_article_readmore

The Atlantic – The Man Who Would Teach Machines to Think
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/11/the-man-who-would-teach-machines-to-think/309529/

The New Yorker – The New York Times Artificial Intelligence Hype Machine
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/elements/2014/01/the-new-york-times-artificial-intelligence-hype-machine.html?mobify=0

The New York Times – Brainlike Computers Learning From Experience
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/29/science/brainlike-computers-learning-from-experience.html?ref=technology&_r=1&

Wired – The Man Behind Google Brain – Andrew NG And The Quest For The New AI
http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2013/05/neuro-artificial-intelligence/

San Jose Mercury News – Apple's Siri Goes To The Movies To Check 'Her' Out
http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_24878869/apples-siri-goes-movies-check-her-out