This year’s Summer Olympics will prominently showcase AI technology throughout the events. This isn’t the first time AI has been used at the Olympics; it first appeared in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games, but on a smaller scale. Back then, AI helped enhance athlete performance, assisted with translations for visitors, and improved security.

How AI Will Be Used at The Summer Olympics in 2024

This year AI will make its way to the Summer Games and the use of AI will be much grander. The International Olympic Commitee (IOC) is using AI in different parts of the Games with the help of companies like Intel.

They believe AI will help make the event more fair, accessible, and personalized for everyone involved at the Summer Olympics in these 5 areas:

1. AI in Judging

Since 2018, AI has been used to improve the accuracy of judging and refereeing in the Olympics.

At the 2024 Paris Games, this technology will continue to assist judges by providing detailed data that the human eye might miss, such as the rotation or height of a diver’s jump.

This information aims to make scoring more fair and transparent.

2. AI-Generated Voice Recaps

One of the significant innovations this year is NBC’s use of AI to generate daily recaps of the Games.

The technology uses Al Michaels’ voice. It creates personalized highlight packages. These are called “Your Daily Olympic Recap.” They are available on the Peacock streaming platform.

These recaps, based on user preferences and covering 5,000 hours of live footage, are checked by editors to ensure accuracy.

3. AI and Video Surveillance

AI technology will help with security. The technology will analyze live video to detect potential threats, such as crowd surges or abandoned objects.

In 2023, as part of the National AI Strategy “France 2030”, France passed a law permitting the use of AI for security at large events like the Olympics. However, the law does not allow the use of facial recognition technology.

Various law enforcement agencies will have access to this surveillance data, and a special committee will oversee its use to protect privacy.

4. AI Behind the Scenes

AI will also streamline operations and enhance the viewer experience. For example, AI bots will assist with language translation and directions at airports, while autonomous vehicles will transport visitors between locations.

Additionally, AI will improve the quality of live streams and images, and help maintain cybersecurity by filtering harmful content from social media.

5. AI and Athlete Performance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czdUgzCqM-k

AI is increasingly important in sports, offering personalized training and performance insights. Athletes use sensors and wearable technology to monitor metrics like heart rate, which helps optimize training and prevent injuries.

It has been used to discover new talent, such as identifying promising young athletes in Senegal. This is achieved by analyzing their physical movements.

AI also analyzes an opponent’s performance to help athletes develop winning strategies.