IBM and the All England Lawn Tennis Club have revealed their collaborative efforts to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into the digital fan experience at this year’s Wimbledon Championships. The integration of AI-powered features aims to enrich engagement and offer enhanced insights for tennis enthusiasts.
Two notable additions to the Wimbledon digital platforms include generative AI commentary and AI draw analysis, aimed at providing fans with a more immersive and informative experience.
Usama Al-Qassab, Marketing & Commercial Director at The All England Club, expressed the ongoing commitment to innovation, stating, “We are continuously working with our partners at IBM to deliver an insightful and engaging digital experience of The Championships to Wimbledon fans worldwide.”
Developed in partnership with IBM iX, the AI commentary feature offers fans watching match highlights videos the option to receive audio commentary and captions of key moments. This tool revolutionizes the experience of catching up on matches through the Wimbledon App and wimbledon.com, expanding commentary availability beyond Wimbledon’s Show Courts, which already benefit from live human commentary.
IBM Wimbledon
Experts from IBM iX and The All England Club collaborated to train the AI using foundation models from IBM’s enterprise AI and data platform, watsonx. The generative AI employed in this feature produces narration with diverse sentence structures and vocabulary, enhancing the informative and engaging nature of the clips.
Additionally, Wimbledon introduces the AI draw analysis, an innovative feature that stands as a first-of-its-kind in tennis. Powered by AI, this tool provides a statistical assessment of the favorability of the path to the final for each player in the singles draw. Factors such as potential match-ups against future opponents and a player’s position in the draw compared to competitors contribute to the draw’s favorability rating.
This unique insight allows tennis fans to uncover anomalies and potential surprises in the singles draw that may not be evident solely by considering players’ rankings. The AI draw analysis aims to encourage more debate and engagement within the fan community.
Jonathan Adashek, SVP of Marketing and Communications for IBM, highlighted the advancements achieved through these technologies, stating, “IBM is enhancing the 2023 Championships with new layers of insight and engagement, thanks to the use of innovative tools powered by foundation models and generative AI from watsonx.”
IBM’s AI and data platform, known for driving business transformation across various sectors, has been leveraged to create exceptional fan experiences for Wimbledon. These new features complement the existing suite of AI-powered tools available on the Wimbledon App and wimbledon.com, including the IBM Power Index Leaderboard, IBM Match Insights, and Personalized Highlights Reels and Recommendations.
The suite of digital features utilizes IBM’s Watson AI technology to analyze over 100,000 data points from every shot played throughout the tournament. This comprehensive analysis provides fans with a deeper understanding of the players, their opponents, and likely outcomes. Constant updates and tailored insights ensure fans remain engaged throughout the tournament, fostering an immersive experience.
Wimbledon 2023 will captivate tennis enthusiasts from July 3 to July 16. To witness these AI-powered features in action, fans can visit wimbledon.com or download the Wimbledon App from the App Store or Play Store. The collaboration between IBM and the All England Lawn Tennis Club promises to redefine the digital fan experience, providing unprecedented engagement and insights for tennis aficionados worldwide.
In addition to its recent collaboration with the All England Lawn Tennis Club to enhance the Wimbledon digital fan experience, IBM boasts a long-standing reputation as a pioneer in the technology industry. The company has been responsible for some of the most groundbreaking inventions that have shaped modern computing.
IBM’s track record of innovation includes the development of the automated teller machine (ATM), revolutionizing the banking industry and making cash transactions more convenient for millions of people worldwide. The introduction of the hard disk drive (HDD) by IBM marked a significant advancement in data storage technology, enabling the storage of vast amounts of digital information.
Another noteworthy contribution by IBM is the creation of the Universal Product Code (UPC), commonly known as the barcode. This invention transformed retail operations by streamlining inventory management and improving the accuracy of product identification and pricing.
Furthermore, IBM played a crucial role in the advancement of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), a type of computer memory that allows for fast and efficient data access. DRAM has become a fundamental component in modern computing systems, enabling the smooth execution of various applications.
IBM’s commitment to innovation is further evident in its remarkable patent portfolio. The company consistently ranks first among companies with the most U.S. patents granted, demonstrating its dedication to pushing the boundaries of technology. IBM is particularly known for its strong presence in machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), holding a leading position in AI-related patents.
Beyond its technological achievements, IBM has also positioned itself as a leader in environmental responsibility. The company has been actively working to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in recent years, recognizing the importance of addressing climate change. Additionally, IBM has focused on improving the power usage effectiveness (PUE) of its data centers, aiming to enhance IT server efficiency and reduce energy consumption.
With a rich history of groundbreaking inventions, a commitment to technological innovation, and a focus on environmental sustainability, IBM continues to shape the future of the technology industry. The company’s collaborations and advancements in AI and machine learning further solidify its position as a leader in the field, driving progress and delivering impactful solutions across various sectors and industries.
