Generative AI Offers Personalized Player Analysis for Fans at Wimbledon 2024

IBM's new generative AI-powered feature for Wimbledon is set to augment the digital spectator experience with AI-generated player analysis.

Unveiled ahead of the tennis championships starting on July 1, the Catch Me Up feature offers fans personalized insights and information about their favorite players. By analyzing recent performances, the AI predicts likelihood-to-win scenarios, providing an in-depth look at what fans can expect on the court.

In addition to pre-match insights, the feature also works for post-match analysis, delivering highlights, detailed play-by-play breakdowns, match summaries and key statistics.

"We are committed to offering fans the highest quality Wimbledon experience, whether it's in person or digitally. Generative AI allows us to scale our ability to provide different types of content for fans wherever they are in the world in a way that's personalized for them,” said Chris Clements, the All England Club’s digital products lead. “This year's new Catch Me Up feature will make it easier for fans to follow the key storylines as they emerge throughout The Championships."

The Catch Me Up feature was built using IBM’s Granite language model. Granite was trained to generate content in Wimbledon’s editorial style and its output will be monitored throughout the tournament by the All England Club.

Related:Generative AI Operations In the Control Room at Wimbledon 2023

The feature aims to provide fans with access to personalized content across matches that occur simultaneously, both for men and women.

IBM’s Slamtracker is also part of the revamped digital viewing experience. The generative AI tool creates match previews and reviews in bullet points, allowing fans to easily digest information on fixtures and results.

The new generative AI features are the latest in IBM’s long-running partnership with Wimbledon, having previously introduced AI-generated match commentaries and video highlight packages for mobile apps.

“For 35 years, IBM and Wimbledon have been co-creating solutions that make fans feel more connected to all the on-court action,” said Jonathan Adashek, IBM’s senior vice president for marketing and communications. “IBM is also putting these same technologies from our AI and data platform watsonx into the hands of clients worldwide, across nearly every sector, to address their unique business needs."

Generative AI solutions from IBM’s watsonX were behind AI-powered fan features at the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Georgia earlier this year.

This article first appeared in IoT World Today's sister publication AI Business.

Related:Wimbledon Brings Generative AI to the Court in IBM Partnership