Where will it end dear Pumpkins... ? The IBM super-computer that won Jeopardy – sexily named Watson - is now being touted as the next competitor to living, breathing travel agents.
According to the computer maker, all you need to do is teach Watson about your industry and customers will automatically hove to the soulless bag of chips. Watson’s boosters claim the thing is capable of delivering “a personalized guided selling experience online that can replicate the best in-store experience.”
IBM seriously suggests that “an airline could create virtual travel agents able to recommend the perfect destination tailored to the user's unique needs."
Why, oh why does everyone want to replace my Pumpkins with binary substitutes? Watson’s parts may come from far-flung places, but where exactly has Watson been?
Dahrlings, our parts have been there, done that and bought the penicillin. We’re not some electronic eunuch living vicariously through the sexless keystrokes of some basement-dwelling programmer.
Process that Dr. Watson!
