This July, the esteemed Wimbledon tournament will debut AI-powered commentary, leveraging IBM's Watsonx AI platform. This cutting-edge technology will generate audio commentary and captions for video highlight reels, trained specifically on the nuanced language of tennis. While IBM's technology already powers the player power index, this marks a significant expansion of AI's role at Wimbledon.
Fans can access these AI-driven highlights via the Wimbledon app and website. The technology is poised to provide commentary when human commentators aren't available, ensuring continuous coverage. IBM emphasizes that AI is meant to complement, not replace, human commentators, enriching the viewing experience rather than substituting the unique insights of experts like John McEnroe.
Alex Beckman, CEO of GameOn Technology and an AI expert, highlights the proven success of AI-powered highlights in boosting fan engagement. Citing a 400% engagement increase with NBA playoff highlights delivered via AI-powered chat and personalization, Beckman points to the potential for enhanced fan experiences and increased click-through rates for ticketing. The AI analysis will also identify unusual patterns and potential upsets by predicting the likelihood of players reaching the singles final.
Beyond commentary, the AI platform will gather data for a chatbot system that generates tennis-specific dialogue. This innovative use of AI follows the French Open's recent adoption of similar technology to improve the experience for both athletes and fans. IBM suggests this is a stepping stone toward AI commentary for entire matches, envisioning the ability to train AI in different styles, languages, and voices.
Looking ahead, GameOn Technology envisions a future where AI empowers fans to become broadcasters, using their likeness and AI to create a more personalized and engaging experience. Their previous project, "Trash Talk with Gary Payton," allowed fans to chat with the NBA legend, demonstrating the potential for interactive fan engagement.
