IP Australia to trial IBM's cognitive computing technology

IP Australia has announced a partnership with IBM to trial the latter’s cognitive computing technology, Watson, in order to improve agency efficiencies and enhance online service offerings for Australia’s innovators. The engagement is part of IP Australia’s commitment to assist IP rights holders and inventors.

Already in use in the medical research sector, finance and banking, international education and travel and hospitality services, Watson can analyse a broad range of disparate data and provide responses with intelligent reason. It works by consuming vast amounts of information, learnt from its interactions with people, and creating a profile of the user based on stated, observed and inferred preferences and experiences.

IP Australia’s director general, Patricia Kelly, explained that Watson will be involved in a 12-week engagement, during which different applications in IP Australia will be considered. “We will develop a working prototype of a user scenario to demonstrate how the tool can benefit IP Australia’s working environment in the future,” she said.

Kelly said the trial will launch “IP Australia’s journey into the field of cognitive computing”, enabling the organisation to improve how it delivers “efficient, timely and high-quality services to the public”.

“By exploring new opportunities, we can lead the global IP economy in a revolutionary digital transformation to develop a world-leading IP system that builds prosperity for Australians,” Kelly concluded.