AI machine called Watson to answer kids' questions ahead of hospital stays

Young patients at Alder Hey will soon be able to use their smartphones to ask questions about everything from hospital menus to details of their medical care. The West Derby hospital has teamed up with computer giant IBM to use artificial intelligence to help put children and their families at ease. The technology – known as Watson – will allow kids to ask questions ahead of their admission to hospital, relaxing them as much as possible beforehand. Over the next few months, hundreds of Alder Hey patients and their parents will be asked a range of questions about everything from parking to what they would like to eat, their favourite games and films and what they want their bedroom to look like.