IBM announced a partnership with Topcoder at its Watson Developer Conference in an effort to accelerate the use of Watson to create AI apps, APIs and solutions.
Topcoder is the global software development community comprised of more than one million designers, developers, data scientists, and competitive programmers.
The IBM and Topcoder partnership will make Watson and IBM Cloud services available to the Topcoder Community.
IBM said this partnership offers developers the opportunity to showcase and monetize their solutions on the IBM Marketplace, while businesses will be able to access a new pipeline of talent experienced with Watson.
According to Forrester VP and Principal Analyst JP Gownder, by 2019, automation will change every job category by at least 25 percent.
Additionally, IDC predicts that 75 percent of developer teams will include cognitive/AI functionality in one or more applications by 2018.
The industry is driving toward a new level of computing potential not witnessed since the introduction of Big Data.
“The potential of Watson to transform the way we work and live is unlimited. The artificial intelligence revolution presents developers, entrepreneurs and mid-career programmers with an opportunity to create innovation at a level we’ve never seen before,” said Willie Tejada, IBM Chief Developer Advocate.
“This partnership expands the Watson Developer Community and Watson’s capabilities to the more than 1 million Topcoder contributors, creating a collaborative and competitive environment where individuals can learn and advance their careers while accelerating next-generation technology development for all.”
Separately, IBM announced that it is working with one of Thailand’s largest banks, Kasikornbank Public Company Limited (KBank), to build a new blockchain network designed to simplify procedures for the bank’s corporate credit business.
Using Bluemix, IBM’s cloud platform, the bank will create the foundation for a blockchain business network which will allow credit requestors, credit beneficiaries and KBank to fast-track traditionally lengthy procedures such as Letters of Guarantee for clients.
“Kasikornbank Business Technology Group (KBTG), a K Company Group with IT expertise, recognizes the importance of blockchain technology and has built a model for an original document certification service suitable for both corporate and retail customers,” said Somkid Jiranuntarat, vice chairman of KBTG.
“Placing emphasis on data storage security and authorization to access the data for related parties via a private blockchain, the new service helps reduce operational procedures of organizations and related parties.”
He also said the blockchain technology is able to verify data with transparency, security and auditability.
The new technology is used for an original document certification service as part of the bank’s pilot project using the blockchain infrastructure built on the Hyperledger Fabric.
Built in the Singapore location of IBM’s Bluemix Garage network, the project uses the IBM Blockchain service on Bluemix.
