The newest XPrize is offering $5 million for the next big thing in artificial intelligence and cognitive computing.
That doesn’t necessarily mean that people will have to create a computer that can think: the competitors can define their own goals as far as the AI’s capability is concerned. Some examples include improved image recognition or natural voice processing. The complete rules will be released in May, including added definitions of what exactly counts as artificial intelligence.
For now, the prize, which was announced on Wednesday by X Prize Foundation leader Peter Diamandis and IBM Watson general manager David Kenny, pushes competitors to create an artificial intelligence project by 2020. Three finalists chosen by industry experts will take to the TED Talks stage in 2020, where the audience will vote on which will win the grand prize. Finalists will be judged by “the audacity of their mission and the awe-inspiring nature of the teams’ TED talks.”
In the years leading up to the final, the teams will compete for interim prizes at World of Watson, IBM’s annual conference.
“We believe that cognitive technologies like Watson represent an entirely new era of computing, and that we are forging a new partnership between humans and technology that will enable us to address many of humanity’s most significant challenges - from climate change, to education, to healthcare,” IBM representatives wrote in a press release.
Pre-registration is open now at XPrize.