This means uFAI is now closer to becoming reality relative FAI. That is not somehting to celebrate.
Arguably Watson is far enough from GAI to be more of a positive sign in terms of AI being taken seriously again, without directly threatening to be FAI.
I don't follow your line of reasoning. It does follow that uFAI is closer because today is further in the future than yesterday...
I think he means 'Watson is evidence we're making progress on AGI, but has nothing to do with freindliness, so uFAI is more likely than before'
yea, this.
Also, "why would [future event] be closer today than it was in the past" is kinda silly phrasing. The future being closer today than it was yesterday is usually considered rather obvious I think.