IBM has announced that former The Weather Co. CEO David Kenny will take over its “cognitive computing” service, Watson. The decision follows the financially floundering tech giant’s move to acquire the websites, apps and data platform of The Weather Co. for an undisclosed sum.
Watson, which analyzes and sources data trends through use of machine-learning and natural-language skills, has become key to IBM CEO Virginia Rometty’s plight to find new revenue streams. The New York-based corporation commonly nicknamed “Big Blue” has especially keenly pushed Watson as a useful tool for industries including health care and retail.
According to analysts mentioned by Associated Press, IBM hopes to utilize The Weather Co.’s significant amounts of climate data and its Internet platform, which provides weather forecasts through free consumer apps and serves various businesses including airlines and insurance firms.
Though IBM reported its 15th consecutive quarter of declining revenue earlier this month, the board remains behind Rometty’s drive to turn around the company, having disclosed late on Thursday that she will be paid a $4.5m performance bonus on top of her $1.6m salary for 2015.