Paul Allen invests $125 million to teach computers common sense

Paul Allen puts a premium on common sense – so much so that he's investing $125 million to teach it to computers. The Microsoft co-founder said Wednesday he would commit the money over the next three years to the Seattle-based Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, known as AI2. The funds will go toward multiple AI2 projects, but specifically will be used for the new "Project Alexandria" that will try to bring together various technology elements used in artificial intelligence, with the goal of creating a system imbued with good sense and judgment. Currently, AI systems can scan and "read" text, interpret some pictures and play board games. But they can't react to unexpected situations or tell you, say, which way water would flow on a hill.