IBM And Watson Add All Types of Data to AI-Powered Decision-Making

IBM has unveiled what it is calling “Project DataWorks,” a Watson initiative that the company said is the industry's first cloud-based data and analytics platform to integrate all types of data and enable AI-powered decision-making. The project is designed to make it simpler for business leaders and data professionals to collect, organize, govern and secure data, so they can gain the insights needed to become a cognitive business.

With this solution, IBM says that all data-driven professionals will be able to work together on an integrated, self-service platform, sharing common datasets and models in order to help ensure governance, while rapidly iterating data projects and products.

It is available on Bluemix, IBM's Cloud platform, and will tap into a number of data sources, including Apache Spark, IBM Watson Analytics, and the IBM Data Science Experience.

“We are at an inflection point with data and analytics,” said Bob Picciano, SVP, Analytics, IBM. “We know that clients spend up to 80 percent of their time on data preparation, no matter the task, even when they are preparing to take advantage of today's advanced AI and machine learning approaches. Project DataWorks helps transform this challenge by tapping into cognitive capabilities to integrate all data sources on one common platform, enabling individuals to get the data ready for insight and action, faster than ever before.”

The new platform was designed with the same approach used by The Weather Company, an IBM Business and past keynoter at the IoT Evolution Expo, to help users gain insights that impact everyday decision-making for both businesses and consumers. This includes flexible data architecture, rapid ingestion of multiple data sources, and internet-scale data and analytics.

IBM will also enable business partners to certify their offerings within Project DataWorks, providing customers with greater choice to use the latest open source technologies and third-party offerings.

IBM in the same announcement outlined its new DataFirst Method to help clients derive the full benefits of these innovations. This is a methodology that enables organizations to assess the skills and roadmap needed to transform into a cognitive business that is driven by insight and gains the most value from data.