Companies can now embed access to supercomputing power in their product or services offerings, or build apps on top of a supercomputer. IBM is letting developers build apps for Watson, and making a development platform available in the cloud. The company is also working with venture capital partners, whose role will be to identify, engage and support Watson-app developers.
IBM is launching the IBM Watson Developers Cloud, a cloud-hosted marketplace where application providers of all sizes and industries will be able to tap into resources for developing Watson-powered apps. The development platform includes a developer toolkit, educational materials and access to Watson’s application programming interface (API).
IBM partners that build Watson-powered apps in the cloud will be able to choose from two sources of data-driven content, to prepare their apps to uncover insights for users. App providers can use their own company’s data, or access the IBM Watson Content Store, featuring third-party content.
Michael Rhodin (Senior vice president, Software Solutions Group, IBM): Together with our partners we’ll spark a new class of applications that will learn from experience, improve with each interaction and outcome, and assist in solving the most complex questions facing the industry and society.
IBM has committed more than 500 of its own subject matter experts as part of the overall program, in areas such as design, development and research.
IBM is unveiling its new ecosystem vision with three business partners that have developed early versions of Watson-powered apps, targeted to enter the market in 2014: Fluid, which builds online shopping experiences for retail businesses; MD Buyline, a provider of supply chain solutions for hospitals and healthcare systems; and Welltok, a social health management company.
Since Big Data is the fuel that powers Watson’s capabilities, IBM will give app providers the option to use their own data, or provide them with access to the IBM Watson Content Store, which can supply data-rich content.
[Image courtesy: IBM]