Interest
Insights | June 2023
What role will AI play in the
future of sport?
The Wimbledon tennis competition, one of the most prestigious and iconic events in the sports world, captivates fans with its rich history, elegant traditions, and fierce on-court battles.
Hosted annually in London, this grass-court tournament showcases the world’s top tennis talent vying for the coveted title in a true spectacle of athleticism and class. Even with its rich history of tradition, the Wimbledon tennis competition is turning to the powers of AI to try and drive fan engagement and grow audiences further, as the Wimbledon competition itself competes to retain its title as the most viewed Tennis tournament on the planet.
Described in Sports Insider as a ‘first for tennis’, IBM have teamed up with Wimbledon to create new opportunities for tennis fans, including the use of generative-AI to provide commentary on highlights of matches that were played without a Human commentary team present, and this is being launched through highlights provided on the Wimbledon app.
Marketing & Commercial Director at the All-England Club, Usama Al-Qassab, commented on this saying: “We are constantly innovating with our partners at IBM to provide Wimbledon fans, wherever they are in the world, with an insightful and engaging digital experience of The Championships.” Which begs the question what role will AI play in the future of sport?