IBM's AI will debate until you learn your mistakes, feeble human

IBM has unveiled Project Debater, a conversational artificial intelligence which can hold a debate using information from journals and newspaper articles. Project Debater began its training six years ago but it could only hold a debate with people two years ago. A demo was held for journalists at IBM's offices in San Francisco where the AI debated issues relating to healthcare and the subsidisation of space exploration. The company didn't give its AI an easy time either – it was competing against Dan Zafrir, President of the International Debate Society in Israel, and 2016 national Israel debate champion Noa Ovadia. Debater opened its supporting argument for space exploration subsidisation with facts such as how it benefits humankind because it helps advance scientific discoveries and inspires young people to think beyond themselves. Ovadia countered the argument saying there are better applications for government subsidies, including for scientific research here on Earth.