IBM has announced a $200 million investment for a dedicated campus in Munich, Germany to produce Internet of Things technology that leverages cognitive computing.
The Watson IoT headquarters, part of a $3 billion investment by IBM globally, will let clients collaborate and test new business models in the automotive, electronics, healthcare, and insurance industries, IBM said today. The facility will employ 1,000, including researchers, engineers and business experts.
“By inviting our clients and partners to join us in Munich, we are opening up our talent and technologies to help deliver on the promise of IoT and establishing a global hotbed for collaborative innovation,” Harriet Green, Global Head of IBM’s Watson IoT business, said in the announcement.
IBM has 6,000 clients worldwide tapping IBM Watson for IoT solutions and services, up from 4,000 just 8 months ago.
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These include Aerialtronics, which produces cognitively-enabled commercial drones that, for instance, can inspect tall installations such as wind turbines and make suggestions on maintenance, learning all the while.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWDfP_udMA0
Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, in Center City, Philadelphia, is also building hospital rooms that allow patients to interact vocally with IBM Watson to change their lighting or environment, or ask questions. And engineering firm Schaeffler is incorporating cognitive technology in its sensors.
Other projects that IBM have announced as part of its global $3 billion investment in Watson in IoT include:
- Blockchain technology, which can be used to securely share IoT data;
- A natural language interface for IBM Watson that can be included in customer-facing tech;
- A Cognitive Cookbook for Watson developers, containing demonstrations and best practices.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What did IBM announce for Munich in 2016?
In October 2016, IBM announced a $200-million investment in a Watson IoT headquarters campus in Munich, Germany, to produce Internet of Things technology that uses cognitive computing. It was part of a $3-billion global IBM investment.
What is the purpose of the Munich Watson IoT campus?
The campus was designed to let clients collaborate and test new business models in the automotive, electronics, healthcare and insurance industries. It was to employ 1,000 people, including researchers, engineers and business experts.
How many clients were using Watson for IoT in 2016?
IBM said 6,000 clients worldwide were using Watson for IoT solutions and services, up from 4,000 just eight months earlier.
What are some examples of companies using Watson IoT?
Aerialtronics makes cognitive commercial drones that inspect structures like wind turbines and suggest maintenance. Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals was building rooms where patients talk to Watson to adjust lighting or ask questions, and Schaeffler was adding cognitive technology to its sensors.
What other projects were part of IBM's $3-billion Watson IoT investment?
Other announced projects included blockchain technology for securely sharing IoT data, a natural language interface for Watson in customer-facing technology, and a Cognitive Cookbook of demonstrations and best practices for Watson developers.