Chinese AI making all the smart moves at Paris Olympics

As China's national diving team continues its gold rush at the Paris Olympic Games, its artificial intelligence training system is making a big splash in the field of sports innovations.

Developed by Chinese tech giant Baidu, the training system has "sharp eyes and a strong brain", said Lu Feixiang, a senior engineer at the company's research institute.

The system captures intricate details of diving movements that traditional video systems cannot, provides immediate feedback and real-time analysis, and allows performances to be compared in detail with the previous best one.

The technology is just one example of how AI is permeating the Paris 2024 Games, referred to by some as the "first AI Olympics" due to the extensive use of AI in training, refereeing, broadcasting and even anti-doping measures.

"Diving involves executing complex movements within a brief 1.8-second window, from the jump to entering the water," Lu said. "Perfecting every detail is crucial for Chinese athletes' famed splashless dives."

Traditional video recording falls short in capturing rapid sequences, and the subsequent data analysis is time-consuming and less immediate.

Based on Baidu's ChatGPT-like product and large language model Ernie Bot, the AI system addresses these challenges by offering clear, accurate, comprehensive insights, advancing data quantification and analyzing the dives, Lu said.

"The AI system allows for timely playback and scoring. I use it to refine my technique," Quan Hongchan, who won the women's synchronized 10-meter platform diving event with her teammate Chen Yuxi, said before the competition.

Chen said, "AI can break down movement details, helping me master the nuances of timing and entry control."

Transformative event

AI and technology innovations are transforming the Paris Olympics with applications ranging from training athletes to enhanced broadcast experiences to efficient energy management.

The International Olympic Committee recognized the transformative potential of AI in the "Olympic AI Agenda" report published in April. The IOC said it aims to adopt a "holistic approach to explore the great potential of AI, while mitigating the risks".

The agenda sets out a list of AI goals that focus on optimizing the Games, detecting talent, and reducing human bias. Many of these applications are being tested for the first time in Paris.

Thomas Bach, the IOC president, emphasized the importance of using AI to safeguard athletes from cyber abuse, with around half a billion social media posts anticipated during the Paris Games. In addition, AI is being used to create highlight videos in multiple formats and languages, he said in a statement.

"We are also using AI to make the Olympic Games more sustainable, through a very sophisticated first-ever data capture and energy management system. AI is also opening up new ways for talent identification, and this project will be launched by us globally in 2025 to live up to the commitment we made that AI in sport must be accessible to everybody," Bach added.

The market for use of AI in sport is projected to grow from $6 billion in 2024 to $21 billion by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate of 28.69 percent, according to market research company Mordor Intelligence.