IBM Watson's next match? The U.S. Open

IBM unveils their latest innovations and shows us how Watson helps the U.S. Open Sara Snyder, USA TODAY NEW YORK--The computer that famously became a Jeopardy champ a few years ago isn't about to take on top seeded tennis superstar Serena Williams. But off the court, IBM Watson is making its presence felt at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens, home to the U.S. Open Tennis Championships that began this week. IBM has collaborated with the United State Tennis Association on technology for more than a quarter-century, but Watson, IBM's self-proclaimed cognitive computer, is a newbie at the Open. IBM is leveraging Watson's machine learning smarts and cloud-based analytics to try and bolster the fan experience during the tournament--while simultaneously raising Watson's profile. IBM of course is not the only company with a vested interest in artificial intelligence, and the field has become a hotbed of activity.