IBM's 'unsettling' Debater supercomputer is pitted against a human in debate between man and machine

IBM's new AI supercomputer has been shown to argue, rebut and debate humans with incredible skill. Named Project Debater, the'unsettling' AI competed in what the company describes as'computational argumentation'. This is when debaters know a subject, present a position and defending it against opposition. Neither the machine or nor the human debaters were given prior knowledge of the subject of the on-stage debate, which took place in San Francisco. Both man and machine were asked to present a four-minute introductory speech, a four-minute rebuttal to the other's arguments, and finish with a two-minute closing statement.