NBC recently announced its plans to use artificial intelligence to deliver personalized highlights of the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. The highlights will be available on the Peacock platform and will be narrated by an AI-driven voice that resembles legendary sportscaster Al Michaels.
The AI model will analyze subtitles and metadata from NBC’s Olympics coverage to create summaries that capture Michaels’ iconic announcing style. The text is then fed into a voice AI model that replicates Michaels’ pronunciations and intonations, resulting in highlights that sound like they were delivered by the man himself.
Michaels, who has been with NBC in an emeritus role since 2022, expressed his admiration for the AI’s ability to mimic his announcing style. While he acknowledges the impressive technology behind the AI-generated highlights, he humorously noted that he may need to find a new profession in his next life due to the advancement of artificial intelligence.
For a sneak peek at what an AI-generated Al Michaels highlight sounds like, interested fans can listen to a sample on the Vanity Fair website. This innovative approach to delivering personalized Olympics highlights showcases the intersection of technology and sports broadcasting, offering viewers a unique and tailored viewing experience.
