IOC Unveils Plans for AI's Role in Paris 2024 Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced its plans to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) in various aspects of the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics. As the Official Worldwide AI Platform Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Intel is collaborating with the IOC to enhance sports performance and the overall Olympic experience through AI technology.

IOC President Thomas Bach revealed a lineup of AI-based services and tools designed to improve athlete training, event scheduling, broadcasting, and fan engagement. The IOC aims to use AI to identify promising athletes, personalize training methods, and make judging fairer. Some of these AI projects will debut at the Paris games, with the IOC setting up a working group to further drive AI adoption in sports.

Intel will play a crucial role in implementing AI-driven innovations, such as delivering 8K resolution/60 frames per second/HD live TV signals and creating 3D digital renderings at the Olympic Museum. The company is also working on validating its AI models for the Meta Llama 3 8B and 70B language models, which provide enhanced performance on industry benchmarks.

The IOC has partnered with Intel to scout potential athletes in overlooked places like Senegal, where they analyzed the athletic abilities of a thousand children using AI. Skier Lindsey Vonn expressed her envy of these AI-powered tools, saying they can "enhance analytical tools to help athletes perform better, without replacing athletes or coaching."

Why this matters: The integration of AI in the Olympics represents a significant milestone in the intersection of sports and technology. The IOC's embrace of AI has the potential to transform athlete training, event management, and the spectator experience, establishing a new standard for future Olympic games.

While the IOC is determined to harness the potential of AI responsibly, it also acknowledges the risks, warning against allowing machines to be the ultimate arbiter of an athlete's career. The local organizers of the Paris games have sparked controversy with their plans to use AI-powered video surveillance for security, raising privacy concerns. As the world watches, the Paris 2024 Olympics will serve as a testing ground for the responsible use of AI in sports on a global stage.

Key Takeaways

• IOC partners with Intel to leverage AI in Paris 2024 Olympics
• AI to enhance athlete training, event scheduling, broadcasting, fan engagement
• Intel to deliver 8K live TV signals, create 3D digital renderings
• AI used to scout potential athletes in overlooked places like Senegal
• IOC acknowledges risks, warns against AI as sole arbiter of careers