The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, will not only feature top athletes from around the world but also incorporate advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to enhance the competition and create a unique experience for athletes and viewers alike.
AI Enhancements for the 2024 Olympics
Set to commence on July 26 in Paris, the 2024 Olympics will be one of the largest sporting events ever hosted in France, with over 15,000 athletes participating and an expected global audience reaching billions. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has integrated AI technology into the Olympic and Paralympic experience to facilitate various aspects of the event. Let’s explore some of the exciting AI applications in the 2024 Olympics.
AI Chatbot Guidance in the Athletes’ Village
Intel has developed an AI chatbot named Gaudi 2 for the 2024 Olympics. This chatbot will assist over 10,000 athletes by providing information about the athletes’ village and competition venues. Integrated with the Athlete 365 app, the chatbot uses a Large Language Model (LLM) tailored for athletes. This AI tool aims to reduce stress by eliminating the need for athletes to search through numerous PDF files, offering easy access to all necessary information, including transport schedules, stress management tips, and guidelines on banned substances.
Real-time AI Highlight Curation
For spectators and producers, AI technology will play a crucial role in the 2024 Olympics by analyzing competition videos to select highlight reels for broadcast. This is particularly beneficial for less popular sports that might otherwise receive limited airtime. In the past, creating Olympic highlight reels required significant human effort, leading to limited coverage of certain sports. AI’s ability to produce highlight clips within minutes will bring near real-time updates and broader exposure to various sports. Additionally, this technology can help smaller countries without the resources to cover their athletes’ performances.
AI-driven Talent Identification
Stade De France, France’s largest stadium and the main venue for the 2024 Olympics, will feature an AI system developed by Intel and Samsung. Using Samsung smartphones and tablets combined with computer vision technology, the system will capture athletes’ movements. Intel’s cloud-based AI will then analyze the data to identify the most suitable Olympic sport for each participant. This program has already been piloted in Senegal to discover local youth with potential for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
Additional AI Applications
Beyond the mentioned systems, the 2024 Olympics will integrate AI in other areas. Navigation systems originally designed to assist visually impaired individuals will be repurposed to help everyone find their way within and around the athletes’ village. AI will also analyze the use of media accommodations and village spaces, improving food and beverage management and transportation queues. These insights will aid the IOC in planning future Olympic events.
AI as a Commentary Aid
NBC, the American television network, plans to use AI to enhance Olympic broadcasts by simulating the voice of legendary sports commentator Al Michaels for daily highlight summaries on its streaming platform, Peacock. NBC’s editorial team will review all content to ensure accuracy and proper pronunciation of athletes’ names.
By incorporating these AI technologies, the 2024 Olympics aim to provide a more efficient, engaging, and inclusive experience for athletes and viewers worldwide.
