IBM branches out into big data-based BBQ sauce

IBM's supercomputer Watson uses artificial intelligence to invent spicy condiment

IBM has branched out from its traditional enterprise IT roots as its artificially intelligent supercomputer Watson has put the final touches on its first-ever barbecue sauce product.

Watson is based on "cognitive technology" which IBM claims processes information more like a human than a computer by understanding language and generating hypotheses based on its own learning.

In January this year Big Blue announced the supercomputer - named after IBM founder Thomas Watson - would be placed in a dedicated businesses unit: IBM Watson Group, in order to develop and commercialise cognitive computing tech.

Watson's latest creation, Bengali Butternut BBQ Sauce, was tried out by FastCo, which claimed the condiment "packs a surprising amount of unique flavour".

Watson manages to create recipes - and in this case sauces - by using cloud analytics to "learn" about existing recipes before breaking them down into individual ingredients and flavours. Finally, it uses its artificial intelligence to put new recipes together which it "thinks" will taste good.

IBM is set to invest more than $1bn (£600m) in its Watson unit, including $100m to support startups developing Watson-powered apps.

"The Watson Group will focus on R&D and commercialisation of software, services and apps that think, improve by learning and discover answers to complex questions by analysing massive amounts of big data," the vendor said.