In a move aimed at improving the fan experience, the famous tennis tournament Wimbledon will introduce artificial intelligence (AI) into its commentary system this year.
Tech giant IBM said Wednesday that its AI-powered commentary tool will be used for all video highlights during Wimbledon, giving fans an enhanced and immersive viewing experience.
The innovative AI commentary feature will be available to fans through Wimbledon’s official website and app, according to an IBM press release. By providing audio commentary and captions for the key moments of the match, you will be able to participate in the tournament on a deeper level. Users have the flexibility to turn these features on and off as needed. The introduction of AI commentary aims to bring an exciting and dynamic element to matches played outside Wimbledon’s show courts, where live human commentary is already provided.
To develop the AI system, experts worked closely with Wimbledon organizers to train the technology to the nuances and language of tennis. It builds on Wimbledon’s existing AI implementation, including features such as match insights, highlight reels, and power index leaderboards. In addition, AI tools analyze tournament singles ties and calculate a player’s chances of reaching the finals, providing valuable insights and predictions.
Kevin Farrar, sports partnerships leader at IBM, emphasized that AI’s role is to complement and enhance the human element in sports commentary, rather than outright replacing it. He acknowledged the irreplaceable presence of prominent tennis figure John McEnroe, saying his unique contribution could not be replicated by AI. Farrar sees AI as a valuable supplement that enriches the overall commentary experience for fans.
Wimbledon 2023 is scheduled to start on July 3rd and end on July 16th. This announcement is in line with a broader trend in tennis to embrace technological advancements. Earlier this year, the men’s ATP Tour announced its intention to replace on-court linesmen with electronic linesmen from 2025, with the goal of optimizing accuracy and consistency across tournaments.
IBM previously leveraged AI-generated commentary during the prestigious Masters golf tournament, providing comprehensive analysis and insights across over 20,000 video clips throughout the event. The integration of AI technology in sports continues to evolve, enhancing the viewing experience and providing engaging and informative match coverage.
