APIs are crucial tools for today’s digital experiences. From Android controlled rice-cookers to ecommerce through Pinterest, APIs are valuable tools for technological innovation. And now that access to IBM Watson’s cloud-based API is open to the public, things are about to get even more interesting.
Otherwise known as an Application Programming Interface, APIs are the code that allows one application to interact and integrate with another service, software, or website. An everyday example would be the Facebook or Twitter login authentication service used on many popular websites.
The most incredible aspect of Watson and its newly unveiled API, is its ability to adapt and alter processes as new data is introduced (referred to as “machine learning”). Watson was initially applied in healthcare settings for clinical diagnostic support.
Machine Learning in the App Store
ZDNet reporter Andrew Nusca stated that Watson “ingested more than 600,000 pieces of medical evidence, two million pages of text (from 42 medical journals and clinical trials) and 1.5 million patient records.” As new data is introduced to Watson, the system essentially learns to update its processes with new knowledge in mind.
For instance, IBM researchers fed the entirety of UrbanDictionary.com, an online dictionary of slang terms, to expand Watson’s vocabulary. Their experiment worked as planned. But Watson began integrating foul language and slang into responses.
According to an IBM Researcher:
“Watson couldn’t distinguish between polite language and profanity – which the Urban Dictionary is full of. It picked up some bad habits from reading Wikipedia as well. In tests it even used the word ‘bullshit’ in an answer to a researcher’s query.”
Researchers then washed Watson’s mouth out with soap by scraping the dictionary data from its memory.
Cognitive computing, predictive analytics, natural language processing and machine learning are now available to developers outside of IBM. What was once only available to large corporations with extensive technology investments, will soon be in the hands of everyday consumers and businesses alike.
Mobile Supercomputers With Apps to Match
By introducing such capabilities for consumer and enterprise applications, business users and every day people will have the power of not just a computer in their pocket, but a super-computer with highly cognitive functionality.
A recent report from Gartner even suggests that smartphones will become smarter than users by 2017:
“If there is heavy traffic, it will wake you up early for a meeting, or simply send an apology if it is a meeting with your colleague. The smartphone will gather contextual information from its calendar, its sensors, the user’s location and personal data.”
This initial phase for Watson is open to healthcare, retail, and travel and transportation companies. While widespread use of Watson’s APIs will take time to spread, there is much anticipation for what the technology can potentially do.
As kinks are resolved and organizations become acclimated to the service, such technology could assuredly find use within consumer facing mobile apps, business applications, and websites.
Welcome to the Watson Ecosystem
IBM refers to the API service as “The Watson Ecosystem”, which is made up of 40 different technologies. The publically available Watson service offers three different web APIs for software developers.
One is for answering natural language search. The second allows developers to input data and content to enhance Watson’s data perspective. And the third option works to condition Watson regarding specific areas of knowledge and expertise.
The Watson Ecosystem is available through a SaaS model that allows for strategic access to the entire platform. Retail brand The North Face is one of the early movers. The brand has implemented the Watson API for an eCommerce shopping assistance service.
Shoppers can ask dynamic questions and receive equally comprehensive answers. A parent can ask, “What should I bring for my trip to Yosemite with my son and daughter?”, and receive tailored results for boy and girl items as well as products for parents that are suited to the specific park’s climate.
An Exciting Time for Software Development
As CEO of a software solutions and web development firm, I must admit that I am anxious to see how Watson can contribute to the evolving tech space. The potential for developers to harness such APIs could bring about a tremendous boost of innovation and disruption in the already booming software development field.
While some analysts comment on a potential bubble in the technology and Internet market, Watson should serve as a sign that innovation is increasing rather than dying off. Such tools will allow businesses outside of major players such as FedEx, Google, and Walmart to have the capability to use cognitive computing for consumer and enterprise applications alike.
Himanshu Sareen is founder and CEO of Icreon Tech.
