From Star Trek to Siri: How the Machine-Reading Revolution will dictate the future

Editor’s Note: Philanthropist and investor Paul G. Allen is the Chairman of Vulcan Inc., founder of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and co-founder of Microsoft. Oren Etzioni is the Executive Director of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Seattle. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Paul G. Allen and. Oren Etzioni.

Story highlights

IBM's Watson system defeated the human champion on "Jeopardy!" in February 2011 -- surprising the world

But that feat was a precursor to what is being called a "Machine-Reading Revolution," which is underway now

Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen and entrepreneur Oren Etzioni reveal five ways it will change how you live

They say it will impact on how we find a hotel, follow our favorite sports team and receive medical advice

CNN  — 

When IBM’s Watson system defeated the human champion on “Jeopardy!” in February 2011, it surprised the world with its unprecedented command of a vast array of facts, puns, and clever questions.

But how will that feat change our lives over the next decade? What does it mean for the future of intelligent machines?