IBM will use Watson's artificial intelligence to help employees fight cancer

IBM Corp.'s Watson technology defeated two Jeopardy champions in a famous man-against-machine TV showdown in 2011, and now IBM is counting on Watson to help its U.S. employees fight cancer. IBM, developer of Watson, a supercomputer that combines artificial intelligence and advanced analytical software in a format that turns a computer into a "question and answer" machine, announced that as a new benefit for its U.S. workforce certain employees with cancer or undergoing a diagnosis for cancer will have access to Watson for insight into better types of treatment. IBM's cancers-stricken U.S. employees will have access to Watson and an oncology collaboration with Best Doctors, which provides diagnosis and treatment plan reviews using a network of physician specialists, beginning in January. The IBM benefit uses the artificial intelligence capability of Watson to provide employees and their doctors with evidence-based treatment recommendations related to breast, lung, colorectal and gastric cancers, IBM says. With the patient's permission, Best Doctors will collect medical records and feed relevant data into Watson, IBM says.