Watson Hot News !!! $1B, $100B, 51
Today IBM unveiled its plans to embark on a bold new direction with Watson by launching the IBM Watson Group, a new business unit dedicated solely to the development and commercialization of cloud delivered cognitive innovations. This is a strategic shift by IBM to accelerate into the marketplace a new class of software, services and apps that think, improve by learning, and discover answers and insights to complex questions from massive amounts of disparate data.
I am here in the room in downtown NYC at this announcement Event!
Through the IBM Watson Group, IBM will continue to provide our academic partners with the types of tools and resources needed to help students build the T-shaped skills (discipline depth and cross-industry breadth) needed to succeed in the era of cognitive systems. This includes new workshops and seminars at its headquarters on topics such as development skills and techniques, as well as networking opportunities for students, academics and professionals.
Following are key details about today's announcement:
- IBM will invest more than $1 billion into the Watson Group, focusing on development and research and bringing cloud-delivered cognitive applications and services to market.
- This will include commitments of $100 million in venture investments to support IBM's recently launched ecosystem of start-ups and businesses that are building a new class of cognitive apps powered by Watson, in the IBM Watson Developers Cloud.
- The IBM Watson Group will have a new headquarters at 51 Astor Place in New York City's "Silicon Alley" technology hub, leveraging the talents of approximately 2,000 professionals, whose goal is to design, develop and accelerate the adoption of Watson cognitive technologies.
There are several other ways in the near future that you can learn more about the new IBM Watson Group and the way that cognitive systems will transform how we live, learn and conduct business:
- Register for a virtual conversation on Jan. 17 with Katharine Frase, IBM vice president and chief technology officer, global public sector and Chalapathy Neti, IBM director of education transformation research about the role of cognitive computing in education.
- Attend IBM Global Entrepreneur Week virtually or in person, Feb. 3-7, for online and in person venture and startup focused events including a presentation from Fluid, a startup using Watson technology to transform the retail industry.
As always, please reach out to us with any questions, ideas or opinions about the IBM Watson Group. We invite you, your students, colleagues and network to join us in the ongoing conversations about IBM Watson via social media using #IBMWatson. You can also watch this video series that brings the IBM Watson story to life.
Social Business Coffee Break: Interview with Janet Powers of Woman's Toolbox
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Don't miss Connect! THE Social Event of the year!
I hope you join me at Connect 2014!!!
It is not to be missed!
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Let's go fly a kite! The Social Flight!
This weekend I went to see "Saving Mr Banks" which is the story about how Disney received rights to the character of Mary Poppins! (It was a great movie!) My favorite part of the movie was how the song "Let's go fly a kite" came to be -- and it got me thinking about kites and social.
There's an old saying in China - "those who fly a kite can have a long life." Interesting --- kite flying on a regular basis can lead to longevity!
What does fly a kite mean in the Social Business world?
Get started --- and keep trying! You may not be able to get the kite up the first time. Keep going -- endure the failure! The same is true for Social. Starting is the hardest. You may experience some failure -- ensure through it and learn the ropes!
Practice! To fly a kite, you need to practice. My daughter and I tried multiple times at the beach and finally got the kite up! In Social, to really see results, you need to keep going and practice! Social requires learning the tools and the practices as well as your clients.
Fun! Yes, flying a kite is fun. It is relaxing. Social is the same. Keeping touch with your clients is fun --- not just the business side but the personal as well!
5 Things I Treasure On Christmas Eve!
Today is Christmas Eve! I feel so blessed to have such a great family and friends to celebrate with this great holiday! My daughters asked me what I love about this day -- as I am so excited the entire day! Here's my list!
- Candlelight Service. I love this service where everyone lights a candle and the light is passed around from one to another. Candlelight services are planned to be a way for individuals and groups, large or small, to quietly reflect, pray together, or simply show support for one another.It is one of the most powerful things I remember about Christmas time!
- It's a Wonderful Life. Yep, it's just a movie but has a touching message: All of us touch so many people that impacts them forever -- whether they know it or not. The film is considered one of the most loved films in American cinema and has become traditional viewing during the Christmas season -- especially with my family. We make hot chocolate and all of us gather in front of the fire to watch -- and cry at the implications!
- Potato Soup. I love potato soup and before the Candlelight Service we eat potato soup for dinner. I am Lithuanian -- born in the US, but my grandparents were from Lithuania. This soup is one of the recipes passed down from my Grandma. It is so warm and delicious -- it would not be Christmas Eve without the soup!!
- Staying up to Midnight to prepare the presents from Santa! Yes, we all stay up to prepare the presents under the tree, eat the milk and cookies for Santa, and even the carrots for the reindeer. We tell stories of when I was little, or when my parents were little, and just talk. Even though we are sleepy, it is special for family time with my parents and husband!
- The Season. I wish we all could be as generous and happy all the year long! The spirit abounds throughout the day and night. There is something so special about that holiday smile.
I'd love to know your special traditions on Christmas Eve!
Have a great time.
Jingle Bells, Social Sells!
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!!!
I love social selling, and the impact it has on business. Social selling is shown to drive measurable results. The Best Reps are not just present in Social Media, they position themselves as credible and influential sources in customer networks.
In a recent joint study conducted by WetPaint and the Altimeter Group of the top 100 brands engaged in social media, a significant correlation was drawn between a brands depth of social media engagement and revenue growth. Companies that scored the highest marks for social media activity, on average had increases in revenue growth of 18% over the last 12 months, while social media laggards saw revenues drop 6% over the same period.
Tell me your experiences!
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IBM's 5 in 5-- five predictions about technology innovations
I am so excited about this year's 5 in 5 -- five predictions about technology innovations that will change the way we work, live and interact over the next five years. This year's 5 in 5 explores the idea that everything will learn – driven by a new era of cognitive systems that learn, reason and engage with us in a more natural and personalized way. These innovations are being made possible through advances in cloud, Big Data, analytics and learning technologies.
Tell me what you think!!!
1. The classroom will learn about you. The classroom of the future will learn about students over the course of their education, helping each student master the skills critical to meeting their goals. A system fueled by sophisticated analytics over the cloud will help teachers predict which students are most at risk, their roadblocks, and measures they can take to overcome challenges.
2. Buying local will beat online. Savvy retailers will use the immediacy of the physical store and proximity to customers to create experiences that cannot be replicated by virtual retailers. They will magnify the digital experience by bringing the web right to where the shopper can physically touch it or the instant gratification of same-day delivery.
3. Doctors will routinely use your DNA to keep you well. Computers will help doctors understand how a tumor affects a patient down to their DNA and present a collective set of medications shown to best attack the cancer, reducing the time it takes to find the right treatment from weeks and months to days and minutes.
4. A digital guardian will protect you online. Security will become more agile and contextual based on a 360 degree view of an individual's data, devices and applications. Your digital guardian will make inferences about what's normal or reasonable activity and what's not, and be able to spot deviations that could be precursors to an attack and a stolen identity.
5. The city will help you live in it. Smarter cities will understand how billions of events occur as computers learn in real time to understand what people need and like, what they do, and how they move from place to place. Mobile devices and social engagement will enable citizens to strike up a relationship with city leaders so their voices will be heard not only on election day, but every day.
36 Rules of Social Media Infographic!
As you guys know, Saturday is my posting of my favorite infographic!!!
This one has great quotes and insights on Social! ENJOY!
Social Business Video Blog on becoming a Social Business Bank!
I get a lot of questions on what does Social look like in a bank. We have shared many banking references where a bank has started their their journey to become a Social Business. In past IBM Connect Events, TD Bank, GAD and others have presented their journey!
Since this is a journey, we pulled together a view of what a Social Business based Bank would look like. We created Open Financial Network, a simulated world class bank, demonstrates the power of providing customers and employees with exceptional digital experiences. Experiences that are relevant, intimate, social, drive real value and keep them engaged - anytime, anywhere.
I'd love your thoughts!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMkkFHmQLMw&feature=youtu.be]