[extra88]

Oblique references to IBM and their product Watson. I assume they're afraid IBM would otherwise find their comment and sue them for libel (implausible).

For those that need further explanation, HAL is the killer computer in the movie 2001, the name was picked for the movie because the letters are shifted by one from "IBM." IBM's product Watson is named after Sherlock Holmes's sidekick, Dr. Watson.

Edit: the product was named after a prominent, early CEO of IBM, not the character; Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson is what the commenter was referencing (I've thought the Watson name was a Holmes reference since it won Jeopardy).

[easton]

Although the reference here makes sense, I always figured that Watson was named for Thomas Watson, the CEO of IBM?

[extra88]

Oh dang, you're right!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Watson

[joenot443]

Oh, of course! Thanks for the explanation about HAL and IBM, I actually had no idea that's where the name comes from. Very clever stuff.

[somebody78978]

> the name was picked for the movie because the letters are shifted by one from "IBM."

Actually, the IBM/HAL thing is just a coincidence, according to both Kubrick and Clarke: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAL_9000#Origin_of_name

[jvanderbot]

Exactly what you would say if you picked it to represent IBM and their evil technology.

[extra88]

Not going to let facts get in the way of a good story. :)