Thomas Bach, the IOC President, announced on Friday that the Olympic organizers plan to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into sports. This move aligns with the global trend of leveraging rapidly advancing technology to enhance various aspects of sports.
The International Olympic Committee has disclosed its strategy for utilizing AI, highlighting its potential to identify talented athletes, customize training techniques, and enhance the fairness of games through improved judging. The organization is committed to responsibly harnessing the extensive capabilities of AI in order to uphold the distinctiveness of the Olympic Games and the significance of sports.
This announcement precedes the upcoming Paris Olympics, scheduled to commence in less than 100 days. In addition to optimizing judging processes and safeguarding athletes against online harassment, the IOC aims to enhance viewers’ experience by partnering with broadcasters to enhance the at-home viewing experience.
While AI has already stirred controversy with its proposed use for security measures at Paris games, such as a video surveillance system equipped with AI-powered cameras designed to detect potential security threats like abandoned packages or crowd disturbances, it has also extended beyond sporting events into various aspects of the Olympic Games. These include athlete development and audience engagement.