Wimbledon Championships is on the verge of entering a new era as they introduce artificial intelligence (AI) technology to enhance the tournament’s coverage. IBM’s Watson AI platform has been trained to understand and exploit the tennis language and player data, which will provide insightful commentary and captions for the tournament’s coverage. IBM has been working with All England Club to give their AI access to data such as the Power Index to create a fresh take on the action.
Initially, AI will be implemented in online highlight reels, but the ultimate goal is for live AI commentary. This is a major step towards using AI in sports broadcasting and will give tennis enthusiasts worldwide a new perspective and understanding of the sport.
The goal of AI technology is to support and enhance human commentary and not replace it, according to IBM’s Kevin Farrar. AI-based commentary is still in its infancy but has enormous potential for growth. If intellectual property laws are observed, it is technically possible to teach the AI to emulate the styles of particular commentators.
AI technology has been used to generate stat packs, including the Power Index and other performance measures since 2017. Wimbledon’s dedication to progress and improving the game for fans is commendable. IBM’s Kevin Farrar justifies that AI should be used to supplement human effort rather than replace it, especially for matches that don’t have it yet, like seniors’, juniors’, and wheelchair events.
The introduction of AI into Wimbledon’s broadcasts is an exciting development and marks the beginning of a new era in tennis commentary. AI will combine human understanding and technological advancements to create a more engaging and informative show for viewers. Artificial intelligence technology is rapidly developing, and improving the viewer experience without losing the human element that makes sports broadcasting so compelling is a top priority.
