Four of Holt's colleagues — U.S. Reps. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Nan Hayworth (R-N.Y.), Jim Himes (D-Conn.) and Jared Polis (D-Colo.) — also challenged Watson
Dr. Eric Brown from IBM Research preps four members of congress - Jared Polis (D-Colo.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Jim Himes (D-Conn.), Rush Holt (D-N.J.) - for an exhibition game against IBM's Watson on Monday.TRENTON — The answer is: This rocket scientist congressman from central New Jersey took down IBM supercomputer "Watson" during a round of Jeopardy!
Question: Who is Rush Holt?
In a battle of wits between man and machine at a Capitol Hill hotel Monday night, Holt (D-12th Dist.) triumphed over "Watson" in one round of an exhibition match sponsored by IBM. Holt finished the round with 8,600 points to the computer’s 6,200.
The event was designed to foster discussion about U.S. global competitiveness, positive implications of technology and more investment in math and science education, according to IBM.
Four of Holt's colleagues — U.S. Reps. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Nan Hayworth (R-N.Y.), Jim Himes (D-Conn.) and Jared Polis (D-Colo.) — challenged Watson but couldn't compete with the computer.
During three televised episodes of the game show last month, Watson trounced Jeopardy! champions Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter.
Holt, a physicist who was a five-time Jeopardy! champion long before he entered the House, parlayed his victory into a call to support math and science education and invest in new technology.
"I was proud to hold my own with Watson," Holt said. "More importantly, I was proud to join IBM and other members of Congress to highlight the importance of science and math education and research and development."
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) chimed in on Twitter, writing "Congratulations to @RushHolt for showing @IBMWatson human intelligence isn’t in #jeopardy!"
IBM spokeswoman Lia Davis said the computer that went up against Holt was not the exact one that competed on television, but a simulation. Davis said the company did not view the contest as "man vs. machine," since Watson was built by people.
"Even if Watson wins, humans win," she said.
Holt's office said the congressman crushed the computer in categories such as phobias, presidential ryhmes and laundry detergent, where he knew a three-letter nickname for the Beatles was "Fab."
Watson's winners included a very human response to the clue of "a temporary insanity curable by marriage." The computer correctly answered, "What is love?"