IBM, NYC hospital training Watson in cancer

By Jim Fitzgerald

Associated Press

Published: Wednesday, March 21 2012 10:10 p.m. MDT

View 2 photos »

FILE - This Jan. 13, 2011 photo provided by IBM shows the computer system known as Watson at IBM's research center in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. The medical training of IBM's speedy Watson computer will continue with a residency at Memorial Sloan-Kettering to help doctors diagnose and treat cancer.

IBM, File, Associated Press

Summary

IBM's speedy Watson computer will be getting some training at a renowned Manhattan cancer hospital.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — IBM's speedy Watson computer will be getting some training at a renowned Manhattan cancer hospital.

IBM and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center are announcing a joint project. They hope to use the computer system for fast, personalized cancer diagnoses and treatment.

They say they'll upgrade Watson with the latest cancer research and with the hospital's accumulated experience.

Doctors say that by late next year, patients at Sloan-Kettering could be benefiting from Watson's speed and depth.

Watson won fame by beating the world's best "Jeopardy!" players. It first went to work in the medical field last year, for the health insurer Wellpoint Inc.

IBM and the hospital say that if the new project is successful, the finished product could be used anywhere in the world to aid cancer treatment.

Comments