2023-11-12 23:58:45
In the latest report from the Globant company, it was clear that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the game in the sports industry. According to forecasts, processes based on this technology will take performance to another level: on average it will improve the capabilities of athletes (individual) by 17% and teams in general by 28%.
One of the points that stands out from this research is that AI has the ability to manage the performance of athletes. For example, it can accurately forecast the likelihood of players missing playing time next season with a 96% success rate.
In the case of football, Globant’s Perfect Shot project, which is based on AI, facilitates performance management. It is a model for the definitive shot on goal using AI, biomechanical analysis and data from the best footballers. After testing the model in a real-world scenario, it showed them how the technology can improve sports performance and confirms the potential of AI when applied to sports.
“In the field of sports operations, the capacity of artificial intelligence is truly extraordinary, extending beyond traditional functions such as crowd management and security, encompassing areas such as environmental analysis and match scheduling,” said Diego Tartara, Global Chief Technology Officer at Globant.
AI systems will also be able to evaluate the performance of athletes with a degree of precision far superior to human analysis. “This transition means that teams that refrain from adopting AI technology could face a competitive disadvantage,” Tártara said.
And he added that the use of AI can prevent up to 65% of long-term cognitive dysfunction as a result of concussions.
Regarding the future of AI in sports, he indicated that these models will provide much more sophisticated real-time feedback and performance analysis. By collecting data through cameras and other sensors, AI can evaluate an athlete’s anticipation, movement, and play, providing actionable insights during a match. These data-driven methods will also allow you to optimize performance and mitigate injury risks.
From the technological multinational TIVIT they see all this as a silent revolution. New technologies are changing the rules of football: from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to smart balls, an impact that is felt not only on the field, but also in business.
Pablo Prieto, is the Digital Business Director of TIVIT Latam and explains some of the advances that are already being applied. Regarding VAR, the technology that debuted at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, he explained that it has dramatically improved the accuracy of offside decisions and reduced controversies.
How does it work?
During a match, dedicated tracking cameras are installed on the underside of the stadium roof, capturing data 50 times per second. These cameras track both the ball and the players, providing up to 29 data points for each athlete to determine if they are in an offside position.
“The AI processes this information in real time and automatically alerts the referees in the video operations room every time an attacker receives the ball while in that position,” he said.
On the smart balls side, they have a sensor in the center that has the ability to send data 500 times per second, providing precise information about the kicking point to the referees. This technology ensures that decisions on goals, free kicks and fouls are made with greater precision.
Machine learning is also seen as the future of data analysis in football. “Algorithms powered by this technology generate automatic offside alerts and help referees make faster and more accurate decisions. Video match officials validate these decisions in seconds, ensuring a fair and exciting game,” the expert explained.
This is complemented by 3D animations of the data which can also be used for decision making and shown to fans on stadium screens via broadcasts, providing an even more immersive experience.
Artificial Intelligence in Formula 1
For some time now, companies like Amazon Web Services have been using AI in their machine learning models to make Formula 1 cars more competitive. Speed and temperature sensors are installed in vehicles that provide data that reveals, for example, how likely it is that one vehicle will overtake another.
They also allow you to know how close drivers are to braking at the apex of a corner, as well as the different braking styles, which can give the driver an advantage when executing. Added to this is that with AI they make simulations in wind tunnels and with that information they make analyzes that guarantee that pilots can make transfers more easily on the track. In practice, teams use sensor data to predict whether one of the cars will have a broken engine or a flat tire to try to predict what the strategy for the next few laps would be.
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