Technology is changing the game; in this case, it’s the Olympic Games in Paris. This year, the Olympics will boast enhanced cybersecurity,  AI talent scouting, and even the AI voice of the legendary commentator Al Michaels.

The use of AI in the Olympics is not surprising. In April, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) launched a comprehensive strategy called The Olympic AI Agenda. The IOC says it sets the stage for AI to enhance athlete support and reassures that AI is here to complement, not replace, the human element.

AI Voice Clone

Olympic recap will use an AI voice of Al Michaels on Peacock; Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

Let’s start with NBC mimicking Al Michaels’ voice with artificial intelligence. NBC announced that they plan to use Michael’s AI voice for a daily streaming show on Peacock called Your Daily Olympic Recap. The tool features narration from an AI recreation of the legendary announcer’s voice. But don’t worry, Michaels is well aware of the situation and agrees. However, it didn’t come without skeptics.

“When I was approached about this, I was skeptical but obviously curious. Then, I saw a demonstration detailing what they had in mind. I said, ‘I’m in.’,” Michaels said.

Michaels is a long-time broadcaster and currently announces Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime and is familiar with Olympic broadcasts. He is known for his previous Olympic broadcasts for ABC and NBC and famously called the Miracle on Ice Game. “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” NBC said that the AI system was trained using previous NBC broadcasts.

In short, the guy is a legend and we will enjoy his voice for recaps of events. However, that voice will be AI.

AI Talent Scouts

Continuing on in the wonderful world of artificial intelligence, scouting for talent with AI is actually becoming more popular among professional sports teams. Amit Joshi is a Professor and AI Expert at IMD Business School and member of the AI Working Group. AI has the potential to spot talent across the world, and Professor Joshi says the diversity and inclusion in sport are more hopeful than ever.

Olympics are using AI to scout talent; Photo: Intel

In an interview with The National, Joshi said, “There might be a dozen Michael Phelps running around in different parts of the world, but we will never know this because they’ve never had the opportunity to compete, and we have no way of identifying that these people can be elite.”

Partners for the Paris 2024 Olympics may have an answer for that. Companies like Intel and Samsung Electronics are helping to advance the identification process through their various AI projects. The tech giants deployed an AI talent identification system for attendees at the Olympic Stadium.

Enhancing Cybersecurity

The AI group discussed many issues, including the Paris Olympics’ efforts towards gender equality and online violence against female competitors. Sarah Walker is an Olympic silver medalist in BMX, an IOC member, vice-chairwoman of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, and a member of the AI Working Group. She said in an interview, “Popular athletes, especially, face significant backlash if their performance on a given day doesn’t meet expectations.”

According to the New Zealand BMX racer, every athlete’s social media will be closely monitored. The AI system will scan the posts for hate comments and promptly remove them before the athletes see them.

The Paris 2024 Olympics started on July 26 and will end on August 11.

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