IBM's Watson learning Arabic in move to Middle East
14-Jul-15, Fortune
IBM supercomputer and Jeopardy champion Watson is learning Arabic and setting up shop in the Middle East and North Africa, IBM said.
%20Andrew%20Spear_The%20Washington%20Post_Getty%20Images.jpg "IBMs Watson learning Arabic in move to Middle East (c) Andrew Spear The Washington Post Getty Images")
Image: Fortune
The big data service and source of heavy investment from IBM will be rolled out to the region as part of joint venture between Big Blue and the Mubadala Development Company, the investment arm of the government of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
The company is banking on Middle Eastern healthcare organizations turning to Watson. The Cleveland Clinic, a US-based hospital that uses Watson for genomic research, has worked with Mubadala to build a hospital in Abu Dhabi. The Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic are also users of the Watson Health service, a version of Watson tailored for healthcare.
IBM is hoping that Middle Eastern healthcare companies and researchers can tap into Watson much like the Cleveland Clinic and the Mayo Clinic currently do, as a tool that can aid in their healthcare findings.