IBM, which used its supercomputer to beat chess masters (attempt to beat actually sub.Ed), has now decided to enter the more lucrative world of US game shows.

Its supercomputer, codenamed "Watson," has the ability to analyse complex questions and form answers so well that it can compete with humans on the game show Jeopardy. Apparently a machine vs. human competition on the show is in the works.

Watson is in its final stages of development. It is basically a question answering system that has been in development for nearly two years. According to a Big Blue press release there are natural language processing and other technologies analyse meanings behind words. It enables the computer to identify relevant and irrelevant content, interpret ambiguous expression and puns, decompose questions into sub-questions, and synthesise information to form an answer.

Watson considers massive volumes and varieties of natural language, then quickly analyzes and scores supporting or refuting evidence—in a matter of seconds. Jeopardy is Watson's perfect game show. Contestants on the show must quickly and accurately answer the problems posed by host Alex Trebeck.

They have to analyze irony, which is tricky for Americans, riddles, subtle meaning and complexities. IBM says Watson can do the same with precision and speed.