As artificial intelligence (AI) technology has come to dominate conversations in the tech world in recent years, experts and amateurs alike speculate about how it might impact all corners of life into the future. AI has already revolutionized everything from how pop songs are created to how historians study ancient languages to how video games are made, and much more.

At the same time, advances in other technologies have driven a revolution in the world of sports. Statistical data, always a key factor in the sports industry, has developed by leaps and bounds, allowing athletes to train more efficiently, broadcasters to engage audiences more effectively, and so on.

While at first it may seem counterintuitive—after all, sports are played by human beings in the “real world,” separate from computers and the domain of AI—many analysts now believe that the confluence of rich AI technology and a receptive athletics industry will lead to dramatic changes in the way we train for, play, and watch sports. Indeed, the global AI sports market reached $1.8 billion in 2021 and could grow to about $20 billion by 2030. Read on to learn about some of the ways these worlds might interact.

Athlete Monitoring and Tracking

Before the modern era of the sports industry, collecting and parsing out data related to individual athletes and teams was painstaking. From the process of identifying talented prospects to the training process and evaluating performance on the field, data—when collected at all—was farmed and processed by humans. Predictably, as technology has advanced the usefulness of athlete monitoring and tracking has as well.

AI is poised to open up whole new levels of backend data analysis in the sports domain. After all, data is AI’s bread and butter: AI systems are trained using vast troves of data, helping them to learn how to sort, analyze, and draw conclusions from significant datasets.

Applying AI to the world of player monitoring and tracking creates incredible possibilities. Imagine the talent identification and acquisition space, for example. AI can log and process info relating to biomechanics, performance measurements, and more, creating increasingly accurate predictions of how an athlete might perform in the future.

In the training space, AI can respond to everything from vital signs and biosignals to performance records to identify areas of potential growth or of future potential injury. Many athletes already use a tool known as “film study,” purpose-driven recording of their performance on the field or in the training room that can be reviewed after the fact to look for areas of improvement. Film study can be partnered with AI analysis to deepen and enrich this feedback process. One example which is already available to the broader public is HomeCourt, a training app for basketball players that helps individuals to improve their shooting form, log their growth, and analyze their play.

And consider the massive world of fantasy and esports. In the U.S. alone, fantasy football is a market valued at about $9.5 billion as of 2022, and popularity is surging. Participants in these leagues are sure to benefit from the enhanced analytics and data that AI systems are able to draw from athlete performances and games.

Real-Time Data Analytics

The opportunities for AI to enhance real-time data analysis in the sports industry are many as well. Video-assistant tech was already employed in the most recent World Cup to aid referees in making split-second calls more accurately. The same is true for umpires in baseball and similar roles across a wide array of sports.

AI can also assist coaches both during and after gameplay. Because the most advanced AI systems can identify individual players and their many movements without a human’s help, coaches can use this technology to immediately find and analyze what’s going on in the game from real-time footage. AI can help a coach to make the difficult decision to pull a player who may be reaching her limit, say, or to capitalize on an opponent’s weakness.

Broadcasters and commentators have long relied on a type of computer-driven augmented reality in their work: instant replay footage and the ability to draw on a screen as a game is being played. AI is likely to help enhance these worlds as well.

AI Forecasts and Predictions

Predictive modeling is at the frontier of AI technology and involves using AI and other tools to anticipate future trends based on past and current data. There is the potential for big money in AI tools that can help to anticipate injuries, performance dips, or even players who may be most likely to have a breakout performance.

This augmented insight is likely to play an increasingly significant role in player trading and signings. Coaches and talent scouts might be able to reasonably assess that a young player has incredible potential for a few years down the line based on trends identified by AI, say, and higher that player even if they are not the most attractive prospect in the present day.

Equipment Development

A key reason why player performance across many sports has continued to improve over decades is the growing technology behind equipment and how it impacts performance. As performance-enhancing gear has grown more sophisticated, athletes have been able to achieve new heights.

AI’s data processing and analytic powers are primed to continue this growth. The possibilities are seemingly endless: Adidas has already used an AI tool to produce a soccer ball that auto-adjusts its flight path for accuracy, while athletic apparel and equipment producer Wilson has done something similar for tennis rackets.

Running shoes, golf clubs, bicycles—there is tremendous opportunity for AI to better inform the ways that manufacturers produce athletic equipment.

Fan and Audience Engagement

Sports fans may already be uniquely primed to engage with new technologies, as studies have shown that they are more likely than others to buy NFTs, bitcoin, and other crypto tokens. Now, AI is primed to elevate the experience of viewing and engaging with sports for fans of all kinds. AI-powered virtual reality will allow fans to experience what it is like to be on the field, while other AI systems can tailor content specifically to fan preferences. Chatbots can help to link fans with their favorite players in a new way. AI can even track broader trends such as social media engagement and even biometric data from fans at a stadium to determine what most excites the audience.

On a logistical level, AI has the potential to streamline the experience of attending a sporting event for fans. It can help to make the process of buying and selling tickets more straightforward and efficient, and it can even track fan movements in the stands to help stadium managers to improve layouts and traffic flow. AI may even be able to help to ensure that the risk of dangerous crowd crush events is minimized.

Future Remains to Be Seen

The possibilities of AI and sports are significant. However, it’s likely that there will be pushback from some athletes, fans, and others in the industry. For one thing, while AI technology is so new and developing at such a rapid pace, there is a huge potential for lopsided usage and unfair advantages. Beyond that, though, some may resist the idea of technology assisting what has historically been a fundamentally human endeavor. Leagues and officials will likely have to confront the possibility of regulating AI usage in athletics, and players and fans will have to make decisions for themselves as to how much or how little they will engage with new technologies.

Cheat Sheet

• The global AI sports market was valued at $1.8 billion in 2021 and is forecast to climb to $19.9 billion by 2030.
• The fantasy football industry in the U.S. alone was worth about $9.5 billion in 2022.
• AI is likely to revolutionize many aspects of the sports industry, including athlete monitoring and tracking, real-time analytics, forecasting and predictions, and more.
• AI could help players and coaches to identify new training regimens, to scout out talent before young players fully develop, and even to improve their techniques when combined with film study.
• For fans, AI is likely going to deepen access to data and analysis both during and after gameplay, enhancing everything from fantasy sports leagues to the ways that broadcasters present sports events to audience members.
• AI has the potential to elevate the athletics equipment manufacturing process, creating equipment that is specifically tailored to individuals and even equipment that responds in real time to events on the field.
• While the opportunities for AI and sports are seemingly endless, the industry will also have to reckon with the likely usage of AI for gaining an unfair advantage or for cheating. It may require new regulations, rules, and other adaptations.