Revolutionizing the world of sports with Artificial Intelligence
The sports world is getting increasingly tech-savvy with new and innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). While sports analytics has been around for decades, however, recent advances in data collection and management technology have broadened its scope manifold. Today, AI is being leveraged for creating strategy, enhancing player’s performance, coaching, engaging the fans and the audience to produce the best possible outcomes on the playing field. AI is gradually gaining acceptance in various sports such as baseball, tennis, soccer, football, basketball, and many others.
Reviewing the player’s performance, working on weak areas to better their performance, and predict optimum actions for future players are some of the advantages that AI offers:
Enhancing a player's performance
Today, AI is being leveraged to provide real-time feedback on a player’s performance to help optimize their performance along with providing them personalized training schedules best suited to their specific needs. AI-enabled wearable devices are available in the market which are being used to gain insights and data around a player’s levels of strain and exertion. Based on the information, it notifies the player in case of a threat of any injury.
AI empowers coaches in making strategic decisions
AI is of great benefit to coaches in terms of helping them make strategic decisions both before and during a game. Baseball is one such example where AI is being leveraged to decide what line-up to field against opposing teams should be followed. Today, there are various AI-enabled devices available in the market which include wearable sensors and high-speed cameras, that help measure the speed, spin and placement of tennis serve, a curveball, forward pass, penalty kick and various other actions. With this data available to coaches, they can better prepare the players for competition. Also, AI is being used to predict the chances of success for various game tactics. Going forward, it will play a crucial role in the selection of players for professional sports.
Leveraging AI to provide an immersive experience to viewers
Sports enthusiasts are always looking for innovative ways to engage with sports that bring them closer to real-time action. AI-based solutions help in identifying specific game objects, constructs, players, events and actions and help sports producers to create sports highlights while the game is in progress. Today, AI is being leveraged to capture sporting events along with the highlights of a game for distribution to television outlets or mobile devices. It provides truly immersive experiences to sports fans. AI stitches together match data and video data and leverages advanced analytical capabilities to create and automate rapid highlight packages. AI has changed the sports landscape significantly – by delivering required accuracy, variety, speed and scale. AI can detect actions fast and within seconds can create highlight packages for the viewers to enjoy the game from different angles.
The Future of Sports
Future of sports production is with AI
Audiences today expect a more intimate and personalised experience while watching any game. AI adoption is the future of sports production and is going to lay the foundation to deliver a more immersive experience to viewers.
The opinions expressed in this article are my own and do not reflect the view of KPMG in India