IBM's 'Jeopardy!' champ goes to med school

NEW YORK, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- IBM said its "Jeopardy!" champion computer, Watson, is headed to New York's Columbia University to gain medical skills.

Officials said the company is teaming with voice-recognition technology firm Nuance to prepare Watson for a new career helping doctors with diagnoses, the New York Daily News reported Friday.

"Watson has the potential to help doctors reduce the time needed to evaluate and determine the correct diagnosis for a patient," said Dr. Herbert Chase, professor of clinical medicine at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

"It can find answers that would take us 30 minutes to look up," Chase said.

Nuance, based in Massachusetts, said it is working on a program to allow Watson to understand direct questions from doctors and nurses.