The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris started on July 26th, bringing with them a host of new technologies to keep an eye on.
AI-Generated Clone of Sports Broadcaster Al Michaels
One of the most talked-about features is NBC’s announcement of using an AI-generated clone of sports broadcaster Al Michaels to provide daily recaps. The “Your Daily Olympic Recap” available on Peacock uses training from previous NBC broadcasts by Al Michaels to mimic his speaking style and mannerisms. With 5,000 hours of live coverage, the AI broadcaster can deliver 10-minute highlight packages personalized to subscribers’ interests. Peacock estimates there are 7 million different personalized recap possibilities, even greeting users by name.
This innovation allows NBC broadcasters to focus on the most popular events while Peacock users can stream specific events and get daily recaps of the sports they are most interested in. This means viewers no longer need to sit through extensive coverage of sports like swimming to catch a mention of archery or handball.
IOC Uses AI in Exciting and Affirming Ways
NBC isn’t the only entity utilizing AI for these Olympics. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has launched The Olympic AI Agenda, formed by the AI Working Group to review how AI applications could be used in sports to shape and better the future of the Olympic Games. One active feature in Paris is the use of AI to combat online violence against athletes. AI can identify and delete hate comments on social media before athletes even see them.
Additionally, the IOC is using AI for talent scouting, searching the internet globally for athletic talent and potential. The goal is to break down racial and economic divides, offering athletes from poorer countries opportunities that were once only available to those from wealthier nations. Paris 2024 Olympic partners like Intel and Samsung support this advancement in sports. Attendees can test the new AI-powered talent identification system in Paris at Stade de France. When they perform various sports-related exercises, participants receive suggestions of which Olympic sport they should pursue. This system was initially tested in Senegal, where local youth with athletic potential were identified.
Paris Event Planners and Digital Twinning
Even the Paris event planners are utilizing new technology to build Olympic venues. Paul Foster, the CEO of OnePlan, refers to this software as digital twinning. Although not debuting at the Paris Games, digital twinning has been used at sports venues worldwide, including the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. According to the IOC, digital twinning “uses data streams to create a digital representation of a real-world asset.” It helps broadcasters determine the best camera positions, optimizes planning, reduces costs and time, and improves sustainability. Athletes can train for venues before they are built, and fans can explore and interact with events through AR, a feature tested at the 2020 Youth Olympics in Lausanne.
The future of AI feels increasingly limitless, and it is encouraging to see the IOC and others using it positively. The use of AI to discover potential athletic talent in countries with limited access to necessary funds and training is an especially exciting development to watch.