Artificial Intelligence at the Olympics: technology and innovation in Paris

26/07/2024

Now it’s official! This Friday (26), the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games will take place. For the first time in history, the event will be held outside a sports stadium and will take place over the River Seine. But that’s not the only novelty of the event. This year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has a specific agenda on the use of artificial intelligence (AI), The Olympic AI Agenda.

According to the committee, the initiative seeks to map “transformative technologies that increasingly offer the possibility of revolutionizing every aspect of our lives, including sport” and use them in a positive way during the 2024 Olympic Games. IOC President Thomas Bach stressed at a press conference that “responsible leadership is needed, embracing change and preserving Olympic values”.

The agenda also considers the rapid changes in AI tools and how this can benefit athletes. In addition, the technological implementations seek to guarantee fair play , optimize event operations and transform the spectator experience.

But how does this work in practice? Check it out:

AI in athlete performance: an individual performance database has been created for each athlete. In other words, the competitor’s physical characteristics and abilities are mapped to identify talents and deficiencies that can be improved. Based on this data, the tools can help coaches propose more suitable training sessions and give personalized instructions to help prevent and rehabilitate injuries, as shown in an article in Superinteressante magazine.

AI in broadcasting the games: the Olympic Broadcasting Service, in partnership with TV broadcasters, will use AI in the Paris games to improve the viewer experience. According to Portal Giz Brasil, there is a partnership with the Alibaba group to offer multicam replay systems using AI. In addition, this resource will be used to create 3D models and map additional perspectives in more than 20 sports.

AI in event logistics: AI tools will also be used to improve efficiency, reduce costs and increase sustainability at the Olympics. Transport optimization, workforce training and ticket sales are some of the possibilities. In city security, AI-powered surveillance cameras will monitor crowds to identify potential risks, such as abandoned bags or packages and the increased volume of people.

AI on social media: the IOC estimates that half a billion pieces of content will be published on social media during the competitions. An AI system will monitor the platforms in real time and in more than 35 languages. The aim is to create a safe digital environment and protect athletes from abusive messages and virtual threats. An article in Agência Brasil highlighted that 15,000 athletes and authorities will benefit from the new system.

AI in the creation of digital content: the Olympics will also have an official AI tool to automatically compile the best moments from 14 sports. The idea is to analyze and summarize the content published by the press, with automated comments.

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