Thread regarding IBM layoffs

@3iwo+1f1W3l8j His name is John Kelly, and he failed upward into the CTO position before retiring a multimillionaire.

What landed Kelly the Watson gig to begin with? Oversaw the uprooting of their semiconductor manufacturing in VT to built their sad little 300mm fab in East Fishkill, NY for their tax breaks and energy subsidies. Yields were terrible for years because their experienced employees opted to not relocate, so really he's responsible for at least 2 nails in the IBM coffin.

So where is the accountability for the execs behind this disaster that cost billions ?

Machine learning the hard way: IBM Watson's fatal misdiagnosis
https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/31/machine_learning_the_hard_way/

Proud to be an IBMer !

IBM had no idea how complicated medical data and data supplies were and had no interest in learning it. They just assumed the data could be plugged into their systems and work. Any ideas to improve or invest into making the data and processing more industry standard was ignored. They only made cuts and no investment other than the high cost of blue wash.

It is a sad story. Watson Social Services/Healthcare applications could be so useful in emerging economies where there are no social services/healthcare programs and where people die at the steps of the hospitals and pedofiles wondering the streets.
These countries so badly need these technologies and IBM has offices there as well.

I was at one of the acquired companies. While I did not believe the we are all ibmers rah rah BS, I did think IBM had a great opportunity to do something great. I started by learning IBM tech and trying to be ready to do big stuff. So became apparent it would take some time. I ask how can I be involved I want to work hard and make good products.

Never really go any answers. Too many layers and no one really knew what to do. So then I spent next few years doing nothing and preparing for my RA. That seems to be the IBM way. IBM crushed my enthusiasm for the company (quickly), then paid me (good) for 3 full years to do little work and prep for my next job. BTW when I got my RA I was very prepared to almost any tech job IBM could have, but I already had a better job and took the RA cash as well.

Now I have no trust for IBM And like many ex-ers do all I can to warn anyone or company to no trust IBM. Not sure who would be d-mb enough to Buy IBM these days, but not company I work for every will.

Once the purchased products were Blue Washed, appscanned and had evil json removed there was no inspiration left to integrate the different products and datasets to move forward.

When Ferrucci left, it was a clear signal that bad things were already happening.

I think Watson health was a feel good story. A little of it felt good so why not go get a lot more (other companies). I think it should have been treated as a startup..... Let's be really good at one thing before we tried to be good at lots of things. Everyone drank the koolaid and forgot to get results. Very complex technologies to integrate. Also, healthcare is managed regionally by CMS. Reimbursements rule.

Despite the branding the part that got sold off ("Watson Health") had very little 'Watson' in it, other than the complete failure that was their cancer effort. Not that Watson is really anything special compared to other companies products, but it's not really accurate to say that 'Watson' is being sold for parts.

A bunch of companies we bought with a poorly thought out strategy and didn't know how to manage got sold after we paralyzed their development with endless bluewashing and attempted mergers. Still a complete sh*tshow, but not really Watson's fault.

It did precisely what it was meant to do: boost the brand for the 55+ demographic that watches Jeopardy every night, has retirement accounts, and still presumes IBM to be a relevant technology company and not a financialized embarrassment.

IBM screws up everything, all the time.

There was never a plan for the moonshot. It was just going to be easy.