"Man vs. Machine"

            I don’t know about the rest of you, but I had pretty much forgotten ‘Jeopardy!’ was still on television.  This was until the other night when I saw advertisements for a special edition of Jeopardy entitled, “Man vs. Machine”, where two of Jeopardy’s top all-time contestants were set to match up against a new super computer processing machine made by IBM named "Watson".  Ken Jennings, Jeopardy’s all-time consecutive wins leader, and Brad Rutter, Jeopardy’s all-time money leader, were set to take on the smart computer in a three part series broadcasted on national television.  According to the NY Post, the special was the second-highest viewed program on the US television market for two consecutive nights, falling behind American Idol and Two and a Half Men, respectively.  I couldn’t help but think of the pure marketing genius that lay behind all this. 

            Ever since the 1980s when computer technology came to the forefront, man has pondered with the idea of computer robots taking over the world.  For example, movies such as iRobot and AI: Artificial Intelligence, both based on the same idea of computer robot domination, we’re huge hits at the box office.  Why?  Because for some reason we are fascinated with this idea, even dating back to 2001: A Space Odyssey.  The idea that we as humans created something smarter and more powerful than us is mesmerizing and also scary to us.  We eat up these scary and mesmerizing ideas because they are things we all question, but not really wanting nor willing to experience them in real life.  Thus why the entertainment industry was started in the first place.

This is why I see the recent Jeopardy special as such a brilliant marketing scheme.  Most of us now use computers on a daily basis.  We know how much information they can hold, how much faster they run, and now they have the capabilities to hear, speak, read, and write.  This is why we love the challenge brought on by the intelligent computer Watson, as we feel since we created it we should be able to beat it.  And that’s just what the advertised, “Man vs. Machine”.  People all across the United States tuned in to see if the two human Jeopardy geniuses could actually beat the new super fast, super intelligent computer processor.  They were basically telling us to tune-in and support humanity!  I never caught the actual episode, but I remember when I saw the commercial being very interested.  Had I been in front of a television while it was aired, I know I would have undoubtedly tuned-in as well. 

            So I guess my question to you is… why are we as humans so fascinated with the idea of computers, robots, and their possible take over?  Why do we have the urge to see if we can possibly beat such machines?  And do you agree with me on the pure brilliance of this marketing strategy?  In case anyone is more curious, here is the article I found on the topic. 

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/watson_the_computer_boosts_ratings_g6cJr3ZNYU7PNsRlNCWgzN

In Response to Laurie's Post on 1/30

            I couldn’t agree more with you.  As businessmen, or women, we try to fulfill certain demands within the consumer market by supplying the consumer with the product they want.  It is no longer a time in which the public is unaware of the health affects of smoking, we are taught this our whole lives.  But still people continue to smoke cigarettes and they are in high demand.  As you said, it’s not like they are putting the cigarette in your hand, they are just supplying a product that is demanded in the market. 

            Also, it is my opinion that if the anti-smoking companies can air their commercials all over television, it should only be fair to allow the tobacco companies to air their commercials as well.  You could also argue that if tobacco cannot air their commercials on television than why are beer companies?  Take the SuperBowl for example, every 3 or 4 commercials was an advertisement for beer!  I do not understand how people can trash cigarettes while the consumption of beer, if not done responsibly, can be many times worse than smoking.

            That being said, I completely understand why people dislike the tobacco companies and do not want their products to air on television.  All I’m saying is that there should not be such a double-standard as there is today.  Tobacco has ruined thousands of lives, but so has alcohol and you never here any bashing of the alcohol industry.  Plus, last I checked American was the home of the free, if you want a cigarette you should have the right to go and buy one.  And as you said, if you don’t want a cigarette than don’t buy it!