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Earlier this year IBM supercomputer, Watson emerged victorious in a three-day competition between the massively intelligent machine and two of Jeopardy's greatest champions: Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter. Watson's victory was the culmination of years of research and development for IBM. Watson calculates hundreds of algorithms simultaneously to find the answer through its massive database.
Well, if Watson is so "smart", I was wondering if he/she/it could answer ten profound questions that have stumped me and others for some time. So I decided to send Watson a letter.
Watson, the Supercomputer
IBM Corporation
1 New Orchard Road
Armonk, New York 10504-1722
Dear Watson,
Congratulations on your success on Jeopardy. You clearly have a great deal of intelligence if you could beat Ken Jennings at the game. I am wondering if you could help me. I write a periodic column in the Hingham Journal (Hingham Massachusetts). My next column is titled "Ten Questions I'd Like to Ask Watson, the IBM Supercomputer". I have assembled a list of ten questions that have perplexed us humans for a long time. I was wondering if you could help us with the answers.
1. Why do bad things happen to good people?
A nurse gets diagnosed with breast cancer. A child gets killed by a ravaging tornado. A single mother of four young children gets laid off. Bad things happen to good people every day. But why do some of the worst things happen to some of the nicest people?
2. Why do smart people do stupid things?
We can understand when stupid people do stupid things. They don't know better. But, how about smart people? They seem to continue to surprise us with terrible errors in judgment. Shouldn't they know better?
3. Do fish see the water they swim in?
Excuse me if this sounds like a stupid question. We don't see the air we breathe. And, most of us don't see or appreciate the cultures we operate in. Unfortunately, it is only when you take away the water, air or culture that we value their importance.
4. When I lose my patience, where can I find it?
It seems very easy to lose patience but hard to find it. Is it because we don't know where to look or where we left it?
5. Why are we obsessed with the question why?
Some might call it intellectual curiosilty. Others might call it part of the learning process. A few might call it the quest to assign blame. Whatever it is, we seem obsessed with wanting to know why things happen the way they do. If we knew the answer to the question "Why do bad things happen to good people?" we might be less obsessed with wanting to know the why of other questions.
6. If we each have a purpose in life, what is mine? What is yours?
At some point in our lives we will seek to discover why we are here - a search for meaning. Some may find their purpose while others are not so fortunate. How do we discover purpose?
7. Is there life on other planets?
Hollywood would like us to believe there are alien life forms. Roswell, New Mexico has benefited from interest in the alleged UFO incident. Some might be living among us and occasionally "phone home". But where is home?
8. How many times does a lie need to be repeated before people will believe it as the truth?
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is known for his statements questioning whether the Holocaust actually happened. Some political figures and commentators repeatedly say things with no fact hoping that followers will accept their statements as truth. Isn't a lie always a lie or can we wear people down into believing the lie to be truth?
9. If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don't like and like so many things we don't do?
Many things are important but few things really matter. We seem pre-occupied tending to making lists of important things that don't really matter.
10.Why does Donald Trump think his hair style looks good?
Now, the Donald is of above average intelligence, wealthy and he has been married to several very attractive women. It's long been a mystery, why Trump continues to wear the unique coif that is half comb-over, half Davy Crockett cap. You would think that he would have realized long ago that it is ugly. But, what do I know. My hair is grey and balding.
Watson, I understand that you are probably busy trying to end world hunger, stop global warming or find "Whitey" Bulger (thank you). Any insight you have on these questions would be appreciated.
Yours truly,
Glenn Mangurian
Human Being
Hingham, MA 02043
These are profound question of our time. I'm hoping that Watson might have some insight. In the meantime, please consider this.
Pushing the Edge of Your Thinking
- If Watson can't answer these questions, who can?
- Do you have any answers?
- What questions would you like to ask Watson?
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