1. Artificial intelligence applications
Chat-GPT is undoubtedly the hottest topic in the tech circle in 2023. After GPT 3.5 demonstrated its powerful language and information integration capabilities, artificial intelligence has become the direction of investors and tech giants. If the research and development of general-purpose large models similar to GPT is a battleground for future scientific research, then there is a more urgent need for artificial intelligence applications in different fields.
In the world of sports, artificial intelligence applications are also beginning to show their advantages, replacing manual jobs with lower costs and higher work efficiency, or using powerful computing power to do jobs that are beyond the reach of human beings. The data analysis work, which has been developed more maturely, has become more convenient and accurate after the addition of artificial intelligence. It is foreseeable that in any sports project in the future, whether it is AI-assisted deconstruction of sports movements to improve the level of athletes, or artificial intelligence combined with big data analysis to improve the efficiency of management, marketing, operation, etc., artificial intelligence will be an inseparable tool for the sports industry.
GameOn
The NBA's Detroit Pistons have partnered with GameOn, an AI platform focused on improving fan engagement, to add AI chat capabilities to the team's digital platform to handle game-day logistics, ticketing, fan experience and more. At present, GameOn has reached partnerships with 7 NBA teams, and before that, it also received $35 million in Series B funding.
Visualfy ＆ OLIVER
La Liga side Barcelona have announced the launch of a startup investment platform, with the first two companies to invest in are Visualfy and OLIVER. Visualfy's artificial intelligence algorithm can convert the sound of external alarms into visual images, so as to help the hearing impaired enter the stadium smoothly to watch the game. OLIVER is a data management solution that collects data from devices placed in socks and organizes it into performance data reports for teams to use. Currently, OLIVER serves 95 teams in more than 20 countries.
Evolv Express
In the new season, many MLB teams such as the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Houston Astros, and Minnesota Twins have implemented Evolv Express security screening equipment. This device can use AI to determine whether fans are carrying weapons, which can greatly improve the efficiency of security checks. Each Evolv Express device can screen around 4,000 fans in an hour, compared to 10 conventional security checks. In addition to the MLB teams mentioned above, many NFL, NHL, MLS teams have begun to introduce this device.
Bodyguard
The French Tennis Federation (FFT) has partnered with AI technology company Bodyguard to help players and FFT's official accounts filter hate speech on social media during this year's French Open, using Bodyguard's artificial intelligence technology, across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok and Discord. Bodyguard's AI technology can analyze comments in less than 200 milliseconds, alert the tournament organizing committee if cyberbullying is detected, and FFT can also request the identity of the abusive. In addition to FTT, the Australian First Division Football League also launched this AI anti-cyberbullying system last year.
Just Walk Out
Rugby Australia decided to introduce Amazon's Just Walk Out service, which scans a fan's palm to read their biometrics and linked credit card information, and then completes the checkout step, greatly reducing the time it takes for fans to wait for the checkout when shopping. This is the first sporting event in Australia to introduce the Just Walk Out service, which has already been enabled at the home of several teams such as the NFL Seattle Seahawks and the MLB Seattle Mariners.
2. Sports Science/Sports Medicine
If artificial intelligence is a "thing outside the body" for sports itself, and is more inclined to help sports practitioners find the right methodology and improve work efficiency, then sports science and sports medicine for the human body itself are to protect and strengthen the athletes' bodies. With the "training" of these technologies, the athlete's body is able to withstand higher limits, and at the same time, there is better protection after injury, so that the athlete can maintain the state of movement for a longer period and prolong his professional sports career.
Among the sports technology research that has gained attention in 2023, some companies are delving into the treatment of a serious injury caused by knee cruciate ligament tears, which is a serious injury that makes athletes smell, and some companies are researching to speed up the monitoring of concussion injuries or develop protective equipment to protect athletes from concussion injuries. Coupled with the rapid detection and evaluation system of muscle injuries, these common but more serious injuries in sports are being prevented and treated by technology.
CoolMitt
CoolMitt is a device that quickly cools down the parts of the human body, relieves fatigue by cooling them, and makes them have better exercise performance. Last season, 10 MLB teams introduced the device, and the team believes that CoolMitt will help pitchers improve their condition and increase power and spin when pitching.
Apollo Neuro
Apollo Neuro's wearable device can be worn on the wrist or ankle to reduce the user's stress and improve the user's sleep quality through touch therapy and vibration sensation, and the user can freely choose the frequency and intensity of the vibration through the app. In March, Apollo Neuro raised $15 million in Series A funding, led by Noetic Fund. In addition, Apollo Neuro has entered into a three-year partnership agreement with the NFL Alumni Association, a non-profit organization, to provide discounts on the purchase of retired NFL players, coaches, staff and more for the original price of $399.
Miach Orthopaedics
Miach Orthopaedics, a sports medical technology company, has secured a $40 million funding round, with the NFL players' union also participating. Miach Orthopaedics' product is an implant called "BEAR" that treats cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in the knee joint. Once the funding is secured, Miach Orthopaedics will be used for further marketing of BEAR.
EYE-SYNC
EYE-SYNC is a portable concussion detection device that allows doctors to quickly detect the ocular activity of the injured person with the help of its software, analysis tools, and XR headset, and obtain relevant data to support the subsequent design of treatment plans. In addition, EYE-SYNC can also be used to monitor the recovery of the injured.
Springbok Analytics
Springbok Analytics has raised $3 million in a pre-seed round led by Transition Equity Partners, with participation from the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL, FSHD Global Research Foundation, and others. In addition, the company was shortlisted for the NBA Launchpad program. Springbok Analytics uses artificial intelligence and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology to transform static 2D muscle images into more accurate 3D muscle assessment models in less than 15 minutes.
Nix Biosensors
Nix Biosensors is a sweat testing company that analyzes data such as sweat rate and electrolyte loss rate by detecting chemicals in sweat, and then provides users with hydration recommendations, including supplementation content and hydration. Nix Biosensors has partnered with the National Cycling League in the U.S. to provide sweat detection patches to cyclists under the alliance.
NTT
NTT Life Sciences and Juntendo University in Japan have entered into a one-year joint research project with the Omiya Squirrels and the Rugby D-Rocks team. From the perspective of genetic analysis, researchers will study data on the number of steps taken by players during training and games, lifestyle habits such as diet, physical examination results, and sports analysis images, so as to help them improve their game performance or better prevent injuries.
3. New Content Format
As a huge pool of natural content, the value of sports content is being realized by more and more people. People are keen on the annual event copyright revenue of more than 100 million US dollars in top events, and both content producers and copyright companies want to explore more sports content to open up the growth curve. As a result, the new demand for different forms of content presentation has also promoted the further application of technology in this direction. F1's helmet cameras, football cameras, and 3D footage of stadiums have all emerged as a result of this trend.
Underage audiences are the most attractive part of the population that sports content producers want to attract. Although they do not yet have independent consumption power, from the perspective of the consumer market, the future increase in sports content consumption must be on them. Therefore, families are also trying to attract them to participate in sports. New technology also comes in handy at this time, through new technologies such as AI synthesis and motion capture, the image loved by underage audiences can also be linked with sports, and even appear on the screen instead of real players, which must be an unforgettable experience for these viewers who are new to sports.
“NHL Big City Greens Classic”
On March 14, the NHL regular season game between the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals kicked off at Madison Square Garden, and it was also the debut of the NHL, ESPN and Disney's "NHL Big City Greens Classic". This is the first NHL game to be broadcast live in animation, during which the producers track real-time motion data of the puck and players on the court, recreate the players, the arena and camera angles in a virtual environment, and then animate the intense real-life sports game in 3D.
In the live animation broadcast, the field was changed from Madison Square Garden to the street of "The Green Family's Fun in the City", and the players on the field were animated models of the real players of the two teams, but the people who guarded the goal for the two teams became the grandmother Alice and father Bill in the cartoon, and four other animated characters also "put on the battlefield" successively. The referee of the game is an animated chicken.
Racing Force Group
Recently, the FIA officially approved that in the new season of F1, teams will be allowed to install cameras on drivers' helmets. Prior to this, F1 had already reached a partnership agreement with Racing Force Group, which would install a Driver's Eye camera on the driver's helmet and collect footage. The camera has a diameter of 8 mm and will be mounted parallel to the driver's line of sight. Last season, the Driver's Eye camera was tried out on a small scale.
Mindfly > Premier League & TNT Sports
The Premier League has partnered with British pay TV broadcaster TNT Sports to trial an AI-powered motion camera for players to wear on match days. Tottenham Hotspur's Brennan Johnson and Wolves' Kilman became the first players in the league to wear a body camera.
Regulations by the Council of International Football Federations (IFAB) do not allow the use of the technology in complex competitive matches, but TNT Sports has reached an agreement with the Premier League that gives the technology the green light. They were granted permission to try out the technology on Saturday morning. The footage on the air shows the players in training. This is the first time Mindfly has experimented with a body camera on the pitch in the Premier League, after it was used in Cologne's pre-season match against AC Milan.
MLB Virtual Ballpark
In the previous game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Angels, the MLB virtual court feature was put into use for the first time. After logging in, fans can enter a virtual stadium, and can also complete operations such as navigation, participating in quizzes or scavenger hunts, interacting with others, watching the broadcast of the game, etc., to achieve the effect of immersive viewing.