IBM Watson has captured our collective imagination to a degree that very few technologies ever achieve. Even to refer to it as a “technology” seems limiting, considering its larger-than-life persona. From that fabled moment in 2011 when IBM Watson won Jeopardy’s first place prize—besting legendary former champions Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings—its place in our cultural history was assured. But behind all the media notoriety lies a system of staggering power and complexity, with the potential to impact our future in ways we’re only just beginning to imagine.
In light of all this, it’s difficult at first to conceive that anyone could actually teach people about IBM Watson. But that’s exactly what Armen Pischdotchian does for a living. By title, he is an “Academic Tech Mentor at IBM Watson.” Translation: Armen Pischdotchian knows a LOT about IBM Watson.
Which is why we’re so excited for our Artificial Intelligence students, because Armen Pischdotchian is now a contributing expert for Udacity’s Artificial Intelligence Nanodegree program!
Armen Pischdotchian, with Udacity instructor Arpan Chakraborty
Armen is more than just someone who possesses a vast store of knowledge about a specialized and advanced topic—he is genuinely passionate about sharing his knowledge and encouraging aspiring learners.
We interviewed Armen recently and, as you’ll see in the video below, he has an absolute passion for teaching.
His current position with IBM didn’t exist prior to his stepping into the role five years ago. He created it as a result of guest lecturing about IBM Watson at the University of Singapore. He enjoyed the experience so much that he suggested creating a position to his managers, and they happily agreed. The rest is history!
If you want to gain new insight about IBM Watson from a subject matter expert like Armen, we encourage you to watch this interview from start to finish. If you want to hear an informed exploration of the future of Augmented Intelligence, and its potential for social good, we encourage you to watch this interview from start to finish. And if you want to hear an influential voice in the field affirm the importance and relevance of Udacity’s AI program, then we encourage you to watch this video from start to finish.
You can enjoy the full 16-minute interview here, but in case you’re on the cusp of deciding to enroll in our Artificial Intelligence Nanodegree program, you may want to first watch this particular excerpt:
“The notion of Nanodegree programs IS the opportunity. No question. This collaboration that we have embarked on, IBM and Udacity, is priceless.” —Armen Pischdotchian, Academic Tech Mentor at IBM Watson
