On Thursday, IBM announced new capabilities for its Watson Data Platform that make it easier for developers and data scientists to analyze and prepare enterprise data for artificial intelligence (AI) applications. By 2018, nearly 75% of developers will build AI functionality into their apps, according to an IDC report. However, this requires wading through increasingly complex data that lives in different places, and must be continually and securely ingested, according to an IBM press release. In response to this challenge, Watson will now include data cataloging and data refining, to improve data visibility and better enforce data security policies so that users can more easily share information across public and private cloud environments. "We are always looking for new ways to gain a more holistic view of our clients' campaign data, and design tailored approaches for each ad and marketing tactic," Michael Kaushansky, chief data officer at global advertising and marketing consultancy Havas, said in the release.

The IBM Watson Data Platform already provides data scientists with the ability to crunch numbers and share large data sets across different public and private clouds. Now the company has its sights set on artificial intelligence (AI), reports Enterprise Cloud News (Banking Technology's sister publication). Big Blue has announcing expanded capabilities and tools for the Watson Data Platform that include data visibility and security for data scientists and developers who are creating AI-based applications. These new tools and services will be integrated within the Watson Data Platform and made available through the IBM Cloud. The company plans to make sure those building private clouds, or using its public Bluemix cloud, can have access. Watson, cognitive computing, cloud computing, as well as AI and machine learning are all part of IBM's plan for the company to grow and move away from selling legacy hardware and software packages.

Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer. IBM's Watson project has always been about putting the power of data science into the hands of the masses. Today, IBM is announcing another step towards that vision with the launch of the Watson Data Platform.

IBM and PlayFab are teaming up to deliver better insights about gamers based on analysis from IBM's Watson artificial intelligence platform. Seattle-based PlayFab provides backend services for connected games on mobile devices and PCs. It provides things game developers need to run their games -- like player data storage, player relationship management, tournaments, in-game commerce, and leaderboards. IBM will take that data, crunch it, and come up with insights that help developers run their games better. It's a new way for IBM to participate in what market researcher Newzoo says is a $91 billion market.

IBM and PlayFab are teaming up to deliver better insights about gamers based on analysis from IBM's Watson artificial intelligence platform. Seattle-based PlayFab provides backend services for connected games on mobile devices and PCs. It provides things game developers need to run their games -- like player data storage, player relationship management, tournaments, in-game commerce, and leaderboards. IBM will take that data, crunch it, and come up with insights that help developers run their games better. It's a new way for IBM to participate in what market researcher Newzoo says is a $91 billion market.

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IBM (NYSE:IBM) announced IBM Watson Data Platform to help companies gain more valuable insights from data. The platform delivers the world's fastest data ingestion engine and cognitive-powered decision-making to data professionals, allowing them to collaborate in the IBM Cloud, with the services they prefer. IBM is also making IBM Watson Machine Learning Service available – making machine learning simple with an intuitive, self-service interface. Machine learning is incredibly powerful, but many of today's data professionals lack the skills to fully exploit it for business and the ability to effectively collaborate on datasets," said Bob Picciano, Senior Vice President, IBM Analytics. "Watson Data Platform applies cognitive assistance for creating machine learning models, making it far faster to get from data to insight.

IBM launched a series of Watson technologies to incorporate machine learning, a data platform, conversational tools called Virtual agent, more integration with MobileFirst for iOS apps and education efforts to boost the cognitive computing ecosystem. The barrage of announcements comes as IBM hosts a Watson conference in Las Vegas. IBM CEO Ginny Rometty will use a keynote speech to outline the Watson portfolio, ecosystem and customer base. Here's what you need to know. There are some things that machines are simply better at doing than humans, but humans still have plenty going for them.

Las Vegas - 25 Oct 2016: IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced IBM Watson Data Platform to help companies gain more valuable insights from data. The platform delivers the world's fastest data ingestion engine and cognitive-powered decision-making to data professionals, allowing them to collaborate in the IBM Cloud, with the services they prefer. IBM is also making IBM Watson Machine Learning Service available – making machine learning simple with an intuitive, self-service interface. Built on Apache Spark, Watson Machine Learning intelligently and automatically builds models from structured and unstructured data and open machine learning libraries, while accelerating model deployment into business operations. Its patented Cognitive Assistance for Data Science technology scores each machine-learning algorithm against the data provided to recommend the best match for the need.

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced IBM Watson Data Platform to help companies gain more valuable insights from data. The platform delivers the world's fastest data ingestion engine and cognitive-powered decision-making to data professionals, allowing them to collaborate in the IBM Cloud, with the services they prefer. IBM is also making IBM Watson Machine Learning Service available making machine learning simple with an intuitive, self-service interface. "Machine learning is incredibly powerful, but many of today's data professionals lack the skills to fully exploit it for business and the ability to effectively collaborate on datasets," said Bob Picciano, Senior Vice President, IBM Analytics. "Watson Data Platform applies cognitive assistance for creating machine learning models, making it far faster to get from data to insight. It also, provides one place to access machine learning services and languages, so that anyone, from an app developer to the Chief Data Officer, can collaborate seamlessly to make sense of data, ask better questions, and more effectively operationalize insight."