Amid a move to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) technology promoted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Games broadcasters are stepping up their use of these advances despite concerns about the dangers of “deepfakes.” ing.
Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), which coordinates live television, radio and digital broadcasts for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, first deployed AI during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games.
OBS CEO Yanis Exarchos told Reuters during an event in London last Friday, highlighting the future role AI will play in the Paris 2024 Games. “We will take it to a whole new level.”
He further elaborated that “a number of applications are envisioned primarily aimed at improving the viewer experience while providing significant operational efficiencies.”
Exarchos revealed that OBS is collaborating with Chinese retail giant Alibaba to leverage AI for 360-degree replay assistance. Additionally, the partnership with Swiss watchmaker Omega, which is the official timekeeper for the Paris Games, will be “enhanced, whether it requires additional AI-generated explanations or tracking of athletes.” The aim is to provide “data that has been
A collaboration with chipmaker Intel will quickly produce AI-powered highlights. “Given the vast amount of Olympic content, our broadcasters are quickly curating highlights from different events, tailoring the viewing experience across traditional TV and social platforms according to country, athlete, sport and mood. It will be customized,” Exarchos argued.
“The Olympic and Paralympic Games are the world's biggest showcase for the best athletes to push the boundaries of possibility and achieve things you never thought possible,” said Intel Olympic and Paralympic Games Secretariat. said Sarah Vickers, leader of “This summer, at Paris 2024, Intel will accelerate our mission to bring AI to life everywhere with Intel solutions, delivering immersive and interactive experiences to millions of people around the world at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We demonstrate the powerful potential of technology and AI to create
“Our partnership with Intel will enable emerging technologies powered by artificial intelligence to reshape the world of sport for spectators, athletes, IOC staff and partners,” said Hilario Corna, Chief Information Technology Officer of the International Olympic Committee. We have entered the realm of . “Intel has enabled us to deploy AI faster than ever before through our AI-powered solutions. In Paris 2024, our collaboration will create an unprecedented Olympic experience and help us transform sports through It embodies our shared commitment to building a better world.”
However, as the influence of AI grows globally, so too does the emergence of deepfake technology, casting a shadow over the digital landscape.
Deepfakes, a type of synthetic media enabled by AI technology, complexly replace individuals in existing images or videos with caricatures of others, making it difficult to distinguish between real and manipulated media.
This phenomenon raises concerns ranging from identity theft and fraud to the spread of misinformation and propaganda.
Addressing these concerns, Exarchos expressed concern that video enhancements could facilitate the spread of deepfakes and said that maintaining the integrity of sporting events requires protection from such manipulation. He emphasized that it is essential.
“We must protect the sanctity of competition… Any compromise will be a threat to the essence of the sport,” declared Exarchos, who has been at the helm of OBS since 2012.
OBS's customers include some of the world's largest media conglomerates, including NBC, and Exarchos recognizes the risks involved in taking steps to protect Olympic content from potential infringement. He emphasized that.
“I deeply empathize with the legitimate concerns of our fans. While I am a passionate supporter of technological advances, I understand the need to be wary of its fallibility. We rely on reliable information We have to rely on the source,” Exarchos asserted, highlighting the Olympic footage’s non-negotiable commitment to maintaining authenticity.
The 2024 Paris Olympics will be held from July 26 to August 11, 2024, and the Paralympic Games will be held from August 28 to September 8, 2024.
