IBM's Watson Natural Language System

In Mindhacks: Information about IBM's Watson system, which is designed to analyze and answer natural language queries. Also points to a NYT article on the topic, which is worth a read. A long-time artificial intelligence challenge. We saw it demonstrated for relatively simple database queries. Have not seen it for a number of years, but it has apparently improved considerably. I would like to see a comparison to the natural language capabilities of WolframAlpha. They are using it for Jeopardy game challenges. Natural Language remains a tough problem, not completely solved. Yet would it not be nice to communicate with machines in simple natural language, typed or spoken? IBM's site and the Watson system in WP.