IBM would go on to brand its supercomputers under the Watson name, entering them in "Jeopardy" competitions and otherwise making them seem pretty fun and friendly. In 2001, however, supercomputers were mostly poised in the public consciousness to steadily grind away humans' upper hand -- starting with chess.
Here BBDO explores what happens if the Russian chess Grandmaster gets a little too cocky around the machines (including an homage to the soda vending machine assault in Stephen King's "Maximum Overdrive").
It was the second of two Pepsi spots in Super Bowl XXXV to land in the top 10 on USA Today's annual Ad Meter, along with "Bob Dole." The duo overshadowed Pepsi's thrid entry in the game, "Subway."