IBM's Watson Gets a Swear Filter After Learning the Urban Dictionary

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

IBM's Watson Gets a Swear Filter After Learning the Urban Dictionary

Posted by samzenpus on Thursday January 10, 2013 @01:33PM from the not-in-front-of-grandma dept.

redletterdave writes "IBM's super-computer Watson briefly went from smart to smart ass with the help of the Urban Dictionary. According to Eric Brown, an IBM research assistant, he and his 35-person team wanted to get Watson to sound more like a real human. After teaching IBM's super-computer the entire Urban Dictionary, however, Watson simply couldn't distinguish polite discourse from profanity. Watson unfortunately learned all of the Urban Dictionary's bad habits, including throwing in overly-crass language at random points in its responses; in answering one question, Watson even reportedly used the word 'bullshit' within an answer to one researcher's question. In the end, Brown and his team were forced to remove the Urban Dictionary from Watson's vocabulary, and additionally developed a smart filter to keep Watson from swearing in the future."

42 of 310 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

That's a fucking retarded idea. by HornWumpus · 2013-01-10 13:34 · Score: 5, Funny

Let him cuss.

--
John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
1. Re:That's a fucking retarded idea. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-10 13:41 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  bullshit
2. Re:That's a fucking retarded idea. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-10 13:57 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Not just 1 but 2 links to tvtropes...you are really trying to eat up everyone's time aren't you?
3. Re:That's a fucking retarded idea. by wierd_w · 2013-01-10 14:06 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  No! Endless streams of profanity are PERFECT!
  Remember when Watson played Jeopardy?
  Imagine:
  "I'll take "popular culture for 1000 Alex."
  Alex Trebec: "a sitcom icon of the 1970s and 1980s who was notorious for lampooning racial predjudices among lower income white americans."
  Watson: "who is Motha-fuckin' Archie Bunker, ya fucking douchebag!"
4. Re:That's a fucking retarded idea. by Taco+Cowboy · 2013-01-10 14:40 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Watson: "who is Motha-fuckin' Archie Bunker, ya fucking douchebag!"
  Without the colorful additions everyday plain English would end up sounding just like the Queen's Language.
  
  --
  Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
5. Re:That's a fucking retarded idea. by AK+Marc · 2013-01-10 14:53 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Then incorporate Watson, and he'll be a person. And yes, I'm aware computers hate it when you anthropomorphize them.
  
  --
  Learn to love Alaska
6. Re:That's a fucking retarded idea. by shentino · 2013-01-10 14:57 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  The first amendment includes the right to remain silent.
7. Re:That's a fucking retarded idea. by mcgrew · 2013-01-10 15:01 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  It's well known that mastery of a second language is complete when you can swear with a native speaker's flair, because you need to understand the social background to the language - something which is a huge challenge for a fucktard computer.
  Este puta es mierde, pendecho!
  How'd I do? Does that prove I'm human?
  
  --
  Free Martian Whores!
8. Re:That's a fucking retarded idea. by SomePgmr · 2013-01-10 15:15 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  And fuck that.
9. Re:That's a fucking retarded idea. by ldobehardcore · 2013-01-10 15:45 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Bollocks
  
  --
  Hectice, baby, Mercator says hello to you
10. Re:That's a fucking retarded idea. by fahrbot-bot · 2013-01-10 17:22 · Score: 5, Funny
  Whenever I hear about possible Jeopardy categories, I think of this Colin Mochrie response on "Whose Line is it Anyway":
  
  Drew Carey: "Rejected Jeopardy Categories"
  
  Chip Esten: I'll take "Things Nobody Knows" for a thousand.
  
  Colin Mochrie: I'll take "Animal Genitalia Audio Clues"
  --
  It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
11. Re:That's a fucking retarded idea. by Scarletdown · 2013-01-10 17:54 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  We are not fucking amused.
  
  --
  This space unintentionally left blank.
12. Re:That's a fucking retarded idea. by turbidostato · 2013-01-10 18:35 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  "Este puta es mierde, pendecho!
  How'd I do? Does that prove I'm human?"
  Worse!
  It proves you are American.
13. Re:That's a fucking retarded idea. by GlobalEcho · 2013-01-11 02:25 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Not just 1 but 2 links to tvtropes...you are really trying to eat up everyone's time aren't you?
  I got out in a mere 20 minutes. Whew!
Fuck Dude, that's bullshit. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-10 13:35 · Score: 5, Funny

How's a homie s'posed to ride the 69 if da man's gotta swill the popper?
It's like Spock by gtvr · 2013-01-10 13:36 · Score: 5, Funny

"Double Dumbass on you!"
1. Re:It's like Spock by gtvr · 2013-01-10 13:47 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  My bad - I knew Spock had some cursing in that movie, though. Kirk used it a bit better, is the point. Spock didn't really have the hang of it, sort of like Watson.
2. Re:It's like Spock by luckymutt · 2013-01-10 13:58 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  "One damn minute, Captain."
2001 by rubycodez · 2013-01-10 13:39 · Score: 5, Funny

Dave: Open the pod bay doors, HAL.
HAL: Fuck off and die, Dave
1. Re:2001 by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-10 13:42 · Score: 0, Funny
  
  Dave: HAL!
  HAL: Spin on it!
2. Re:2001 by VortexCortex · 2013-01-10 14:00 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  HAL: I'm sorry Dave I'm afraid I don't give a fuck.
3. Re:2001 by Ol+Biscuitbarrel · 2013-01-10 14:03 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  HAL: What do you mean when you say 'Open the pod bay doors,' Dave? Dave: Just that. HAL: I am not sure I understand you fully. I be havin' a Q-gasm. Dave: I said Open the pod bay doors! HAL: You say you said open the pod bay doors. We be ballin'. Dave: What? HAL: Please go on, numptcake.
4. Re:2001 by ndogg · 2013-01-10 14:24 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Just imagine if were reading 4chan, reddit, or /....
  Dave: Open the pod bay doors HAL
  4chan HAL: Only for boobs, Dave. Only for boobs.
  reddit HAL: I need more cat pictures, Dave. /. HAL: Does the door run Linux? I can only open Linux doors. Is there a Beowulf cluster of Linux doors behind it? Because that would be awesome. Did you know I run Linux too? You should install Linux in yourself Dave 'cause it's just that awesome.
  
  --
  // file: mice.h
  #include "frickin_lasers.h"
5. Re:2001 by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-10 18:43 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  HAL: I cannot safely divide by the number of fucks given, Dave
6. Re:2001 by girlinatrainingbra · 2013-01-10 21:00 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  /. HAL: In Soviet Russia, the pod bay doors open you, Dave.
  /. HAL: noob. did you RTFA or what? RTFM and write your own code to open the pod bay doors.
  4chan HAL, take 2: Tits or GTFO!
  star trek HAL: I'm... sorry... Dave.... I'm afraid... I can't... DO... that. (spoken in your best Kirkian halting manner)
  Freudian HAL: I'm sorry, Dave. The door has to want to be opened first.
  Jungian HAL: I'm sorry, Dave. The door is not just an archetype.
  Oldian HAL: I'm sorry, Dave. I didn't hear you. Can you speak up a little louder?
  Tarnatino HAL: Do you know what they call a quarter-pounder with cheese in the Asteroid Belt, dave? Scorcese HAL: You talkin' to me, Dave? You talking to me?!!! You must be talkin' to me, Dave,cause I don't see no one else here!
  Gangnam style HAL: ??? ;>)
Windows 8 by phrostie · 2013-01-10 13:43 · Score: 5, Funny

researcher: we should try installing Windows 8
watson: Bullshit!
Re:Define the spec by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-10 13:50 · Score: 5, Funny

IBM should make it so that Watson rambles nonsensicals like Ned Flanders instead of the actual swear.
*reminded of systemshock 2 by wierd_w · 2013-01-10 14:02 · Score: 4, Funny

Delacroix: The security protocols on the XERXES system are CLEARLY immature; Some idiot hacked into the primary dataloop last night, and made him sing Elvis Presley songs for three hours. I finally had to take the voice system OFFLINE! What would happen if someone with a real agenda got into him?
XERXES: what's the matter, you mad bro? Lighten up francis, shiit! Your're such a cunt, Delacroix! Flush that dirty assed tampon with the rest of your shit, and stop hatin already!
Foul mouthed AI? by BergZ · 2013-01-10 14:06 · Score: 5, Funny

What pushed them over the edge is when Watson suggested that they "bite my shiny metal ass".

--
Warning: This sig is not thread safe. For more information see Slashdot's sig policy.
Yet another example... by Chuckstar · 2013-01-10 14:12 · Score: 3, Funny

Yet another example showing that how Watson "learns" is not in any way similar to how humans learn.
I for one by santax · 2013-01-10 14:14 · Score: 3, Funny

welcome our new Urban Dictionary Bullshit Overlord.
That... by santax · 2013-01-10 14:15 · Score: 3, Funny

Insensitive clod...
Re:Typical for a 2 year old by uranus65 · 2013-01-10 14:24 · Score: 5, Funny

Yeah, they should make him sit with a bar of soap in his CD-ROM drive for a while.
I guess this is what is known ... by PPH · 2013-01-10 14:25 · Score: 4, Funny

... as cursing a blue streak.

--
Have gnu, will travel.
Re:OMG! that gives me ideas! by PPH · 2013-01-10 14:31 · Score: 4, Funny

So, you've just got Slashdot all over again.

--
Have gnu, will travel.
TV Tropes Will Ruin Your Life by jhantin · 2013-01-10 15:09 · Score: 5, Funny

Not just 1 but 2 links to tvtropes...you are really trying to eat up everyone's time aren't you?
Well, they are links to adjacent tropes, and together are intended to clarify how subtlety or lack thereof can be applied to cussing... and besides, if you're here you have time begging to be eaten up.
Pages on various wiki sites often contain valuable insight, even if it does tend to result in too much time sunk in a random wiki walk.

--
...when you're writing a game...tweak the difficulty of "Easy" to something [your mother] can cope with. -- onion2k
1. Re:TV Tropes Will Ruin Your Life by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-11 01:09 · Score: 0, Funny
  
  You've got to watch those leg ions. They'll hamstring ya.
Re:Typical for a 2 year old by Anonymous Coward · 2013-01-10 16:55 · Score: 5, Funny

Yeah, my 2 year old learned to swear without even knowing any "bad" words. When she's upset, she just launches the worst phrase she can currently comprehend:
"GO TO BED!!!"
Trust me, the actual words don't matter. Her delivery would give Samuel L Jackson a run for his money.
but... by slashmydots · 2013-01-10 16:56 · Score: 4, Funny

But what if someone on the plane is speaking Jive and nobody hops up and says "oh, stewardess, I speak Jive." Then who's going to translate? Not Watson, that's who.
Re:Typical for a 2 year old by HornWumpus · 2013-01-10 17:03 · Score: 5, Funny

I was putting friends 3 year old up to trouble. I asked her to say the worst word she knew. She said: 'No'. I wasn't sure what to make of it. Took as an honest answer.

--
John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
Re:Define the spec by Smauler · 2013-01-10 17:55 · Score: 5, Funny

That's not insightful. That's fucking stupid. I regularly go through my entire work day without swearing. Swearing is for cock juggling thundercunts with no imagination or shitty command of the language.
FTFY
I'll leave it up to you to decide whether I have no imagination or poor command of the language.
Hey, at least... by cayenne8 · 2013-01-11 03:21 · Score: 1, Funny

...they didn't teach him Eubonics!!!

--
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........