IBM is applying the advanced cognitive computing capabilities of its Watson technology to a new cloud-based data and analytics platform called Project DataWorks. Running in the company's Bluemix hybrid cloud development platform, Project DataWorks integrates data of all types into one system so companies can quickly make decisions based on business insights gleaned from analytics projects powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). IBM said its new initiative frees up developers and data scientists from the mundane and time-consuming task of finding relevant data and preparing it for analysis. "We are at an inflection point in the Big Data era," said exec Bob Picciano. "We know that users spend up to 80 percent of their time on data preparation, no matter the task, even when they are applying the most sophisticated AI. Project DataWorks helps transform this challenge by bringing together all data sources on one common platform, enabling users to get the data ready for insight and action, faster than ever before."