Man vs. Machine on 'Jeopardy!'

Things to Do

Man vs. Machine on 'Jeopardy!'

A "Jeopardy!" show featuring an IBM computer battling two of the top champions will air in mid-February, 2011.

"Jeopardy!" champions Ken Jennings, left, and Brad Rutter, right, look on as an IBM computer called "Watson" beats them to the buzzer to answer a question during a practice round of the "Jeopardy!" quiz show in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011. A "Jeopardy!" show featuring the computer will air in mid-February, 2011.

The one thing, "Watson," an IBM computer was lacking in order to battle the greatest champions from the "Jeopardy!" quiz TV show was that it couldn't hit a buzzer. But that's been fixed, and on Thursday the hardware and software system named Watson played a competitive practice round against two champions.

Alex Trebek, host of the "Jeopardy!" quiz show, speaks to an audience of primarily media about an upcoming "Jeopardy!" show featuring an IBM computer called "Watson" in Yorktown Heights, N.Y.

The hardware for an IBM computer called "Watson" is seen after a practice round of the "Jeopardy!" quiz show in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011. It's the size of 10 refrigerators, and it swallows encyclopedias whole.

In this undated file publicity image released by Jeopardy!, Ken Jennings, left, and Brad Rutter, two of the most successful contestants on the game show "Jeopardy!, " are shown. On Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011, Jennings and Rutter will play a practice round against Watson, a hardware and software system developed by IBM's artificial intelligence team.

"Jeopardy!" contestant Ken Jennings, who won a record 74 consecutive games, cracks his knuckles before starting a practice match against another "Jeopardy!" champion and an IBM computer called "Watson" in Yorktown Heights, N.Y.

In this July 13, 2004 file photo provided by Sony Pictures Television, software developer Ken Jennings from Salt Lake City, Utah, right, poses for a photo with Jeopardy host Alex Trebek on the set of the show in Culver City, Calif. On Thursday Jan. 13, 2011 the IBM hardware and software system named Watson was to play a practice round against Ken Jennings, who won a record 74 consecutive "Jeopardy!" games in 2004-05, and Brad Rutter, who won a record $3,255,102 in prize money.

1/7

"Jeopardy!" champions Ken Jennings, left, and Brad Rutter, right, look on as an IBM computer called "Watson" beats them to the buzzer to answer a question during a practice round of the "Jeopardy!" quiz show in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011. A "Jeopardy!" show featuring the computer will air in mid-February, 2011.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Georgia students organize protests against ICE after Minnesota killings

PHOTOS: Snellville's Brookwood High School students rally and march against ICE

Ice storm warning

PHOTOS: Scenes from icy winter storm in Metro Atlanta

As storm inches closer to Georgia, metro Atlanta braces for ice threat

PHOTOS: Georgia readies for incoming ice storm

01202026 day of protests

PHOTOS: Metro Atlanta ICE protest join national effort

More Galleries

the weeknd

PHOTOS: The Weeknd electrifies the crowd at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz stadium

PHOTOS: Beyonce fans saddle up for 4-day Atlanta Cowboy Carter Tour stop

PHOTOS: Beyoncé fans arrive for 4-night Atlanta Cowboy Carter Tour stop

College Park Juneteenth Parade standalone photo

PHOTOS: Juneteenth Parade held in College Park

4th Annual Rick Ross Car Show

PHOTOS: Rapper Rick Ross holds 4th annual car show in Fayetteville