ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN SPORTS - How is artificial intelligence altering the sports industry? Legal And Ethical Issues at game
As
we head into a technologically advanced future, we can observe how quickly
sports are developing. Although the sports business has always placed a strong
emphasis on statistical data, one technology has considerably raised the degree
of fan engagement and competitive gaming. We are discussing sports-related
artificial intelligence.
Artificial intelligence has drastically
changed how we watch and evaluate sports during the past 20 years. With
real-time analytics, AI is making the globe smarter for athletes, broadcasters,
advertising, and finally viewers. One of the most popular uses of current
technology, in addition to its function in enhanced decision-making and sports
predictions, is Artificial Intelligence.
Introduction:
Technological advancements have made a
statement in themselves of being instilled of revolutionary influences, which
influences are versatile in their own nature. To talk a about a piece of share
from its vast domain, sports have been levelled up to a highly commercial
extent with being all the technical upgradations done lately, the approach and
understanding of the games has intensified with both the active participating
players and the viewers.
The simplification of games is done to
ease up the work with maximum precision is the major investment of technology
in the today’s sports world. Due to all this technological progression, the era
has changed with today being the post-modernisation era and latter being the
pre-modernised era, and things have only gone up with the procession of times.
Also, to mention, the sports authorities have inculcated the technical
implementations in a highly meticulous way with in taking considerations of the
boon and bane of it.
The simple application of a segment of
technological evolution which is the AI (Artificial Intelligence) has done
wonders with being optimally utilized as understood so far. Also, to critique
about the application of so much technology is to soon to be happening because
as of now, the merits of it has immensely overshadowed the demerits of it which
are nominal in relation to the present world scenario.
Though there are
only few experts who discuss and uses AI in sports,
and hence it has taken commonplace. We don't, however, restrict the
potential of artificial intelligence when it is incorporated into organisations
and businesses. There is no question that AI in sports will grow in the future
given the beneficial influence and precision this technology has on the field.
Let's talk about the undiscussable while
we're on the subject. This article discusses the changes artificial
intelligence (AI) is bringing to the sports sector, the uses and applications
of AI in sports, and the potential of AI in the sports industry and the legal
& ethical aspects of AI.
Framework for artificial
intelligence in sports:
The phrase "artificial
intelligence" serves as a catch-all for a number of what we refer to as
"smart" technology. Check explore the Artificial Intelligence in
Business guide if you're unfamiliar with the notion of AI altogether.
Without human assistance, AI gathers the
data and makes decisions. Mass volumes of data may be analysed by technology
for improved learning and experience. At the most complicated level, we're
talking about drones and self-driving cars, but in our everyday lives as
athletes, it comes down to screen monitors, chatbots powered by artificial
intelligence in smartphone applications, and much more.
Recent advancements in professional
sports analytics have increased the prominence of the use of AI and statistical
modelling in sports. This is possibly due to the sports audience's increased
appetite for novel applications and methods brought on by the applicability of
machine learning techniques and computer processing capacity.
Artificial intelligence in sports aims
to intensify competitiveness both on and off the field. There are certain areas
in the world of sports where artificial intelligence and machine learning have
made significant contributions. Let's look at the main applications of AI:
Ø Identification
and acquisition of talent - This include biomechanics, player performance
evaluation, recruiting of players, etc.
Ø Fan
and business management - This involves forecasting demand for event
attendance, designing sensors and wearables, optimising ticket prices (variable
and dynamic), creating a sports watch using virtual and augmented reality,
calculating players' economic worth, etc.
Ø A
few examples of game analytics include umpire support, match event, match
result, ball/player monitoring, and sports betting.
Ø Training
and coaching - This includes strategic planning, injury modelling for players,
evaluation of team configuration, etc.
All of the aforementioned sports difficulties
have benefited from the use of AI, especially machine learning. Here are some
applications and use cases of artificial intelligence in the sports business so
that we may discuss them in more depth.
·
AI Analytics in Sports
and Gaming
The worldwide artificial intelligence sports
industry is expected to be worth $1.8 billion in 2021, according to recent
research. By 2030, it is anticipated to reach $19.9 billion.
This would result in an overall Compound Annual
Growth Rate (CAGR) of 30.4% from 2022 to 2030.
Some of the elements impacting the
market's expansion include:
Ø a
rise in the need for player surveillance and monitoring
Ø Demand
for real-time data analytics is increasing
Ø increasing
demand for sports forecasts and predictions using AI
Ø There
is a need for chatbots and virtual assistants to communicate with sports fans.
Sports at this point is a Million
Billion Dollar industry, with engagement more than ever. To highlight a
statistic, over a Billion people watched the IND v/s PAK world cup semi-finals
match, which imparts the influence it is bringing with it. To also highlight
some major benefits of technical modernisation and its application in sports,
Ø Player performance with analytical statistics
of the player and record maintenance with appropriate suggestions.
Ø Comforting the pressure on the decision makers
of any sports because of the presence of high-definition cameras, precise
automated equipment’s with real time broadcasting and in television analysis of
any situation with better viewing experience.
Ø The sporting authorities have become fiercer
with their AI application in recruiting and their analyses of the performances
of the players as well the game. Also, the opposition monitoring, strategies
formation and a game plan developing have gotten a lot easier.
Ø Forecasting the weather conditions as well as
prediction of the results or any other online activity for viewer engagement
has shown out to be a lucrative way of commercialising the games.
Ø Sports journalism and advertisements have
given out so much cash flow to the game in sense of monetary revenue to the
authorities and an incentive to organise more of such events.
·
Legal and Ethical
aspect of AI
Surprisingly, however, the ethical and
legal issues raised by the employment of AI-systems in sports have not received
much (academic) attention. In light of this, this article reviews some
significant AI applications in sports before outlining potential legal and
ethical concerns that may require more investigation. It specifically
considers:
Ø AI
systems being used in sports
Ø Data
processing and data security
Ø Cybersecurity
Ø Additional
ethical and legal issues
1.
AI systems being used
in sports
Teams and individual athletes both
benefit from the deployment of AI technologies. In this sense, the interactive
AI system Home Court can be used as an illustration. The method transforms
sports practise into a real-time video game by using the camera of a mobile
smartphone. An athlete may develop new abilities or tactics while playing while
also getting immediate feedback on how they are doing. Researchers from KU
Leuven, where the authors are affiliated, conducted a study that demonstrated
how machine learning techniques may even forecast a rating of perceived
exertion, which is used to gauge the intensity of your workout, for upcoming
sessions in order to optimise training design and evaluation.
AI technologies are capable of assisting
referees or perhaps taking their place. For instance, Major League Baseball is
thinking about implementing a Trackman. This ball-tracking device uses radar
and has the potential to completely replace human umpires.
2.
Data Processing and
Data Security
When analysing and monitoring
performance, AI-systems in sports will acquire and process an athlete's
personal data. As a result, compliance with the rules of the General Data
Protection Regulation (GDPR) is necessary. When an AI-system is being developed
and trained with personal data, as well as when it is used to analyse or make
choices on persons, the GDPR applies. However, implementing the GDPR in an AI
setting is not simple. While various national papers and other studies/tools on
the use of the GDPR on AI-systems have been released, significant
(sport-related) difficulties remain.
3.
Cybersecurity
During the 2016 Olympics in Rio de
Janeiro, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was targeted by the Russian cyber
espionage outfit Tsar Team. The organisation got unauthorised access to WADA's
Anti-Doping Administration and Management System database. As a result,
athletes' medical information was made public.
With the advancement of AI-systems in
sports, the relevance of cybersecurity is only growing. Inadequate
cybersecurity in systems, platforms, and services can result in serious
dangers, risks, and difficulties. A scouting network or database hack including
statistics and personal data about athletes (e.g., health data) might have a
significant influence on sports competition.
4.
Some Other Legal And
Ethical Issues
Aside from the previously highlighted
difficulties, various more legal and ethical issues exist. AI-systems, for
example, might be used to forecast game outcomes, which could have an impact on
the gambling business. When digesting a vast amount of data, humans have
inherent limits. AI-systems have the potential to solve this issue and become
major instruments in the betting sector. A thorough examination of the
regulatory structure governing gambling and sports betting, particularly in
terms of fraud prevention, may be necessary.
·
Conclusion:
The use of AI-systems in sports raises a
number of legal and ethical issues. The following are the essential factors to
be aware of for sports organisations, academic institutions, or entities
creating AI-systems for usage in sports:
Ø guarantee
compliance with and clarity on the GDPR's applicable data protection
provisions/principles;
Ø verify
or establish who still owns an athlete's data;
Ø be
aware of cybersecurity dangers and implement (legal) measures to mitigate them
Ø define
the ethical bounds for the usage of AI-systems to improve athletic performance
(if applicable and deemed appropriate);
Ø determine
what can be done with an athlete's personal data for the purposes of concluding
or terminating sport contracts
The
conclusion of application of technology to a large extent whether it come out
to be positive or negative is still questioned. The old school guys with
classic mentalities have expressed their concern over games losing their true
spirit and essence with the games being more of a motive of a cash cow for the
authorities rather for the all-round development of the games.
Written by
Vanshika Sahu
Harshit Lokhande
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