At the forefront of this innovation is an AI system that evaluates various athletic attributes via engaging tests. Young participants, such as Tacto and Tomo from Yokohama, Japan, partake in activities like running and jumping, with data analyzed to measure power, endurance, and agility. This data is compared against benchmarks set by elite athletes, helping to identify promising future stars.
Sarah Vickers, head of Intel’s Olympic and Paralympic Program, explains the system’s purpose: “We’re using computer vision and historical data, so the average person can compare themselves to elite athletes and see what sport they are most physically aligned to.” Following the tests, participants receive recommendations on sports that align with their physical attributes, making the process both informative and engaging.
The AI technology extends beyond the Olympic venue, with a portable version designed for use on smartphones and tablets. This portable variant has already been implemented in Senegal, where it assessed over 1,000 children across several villages. The system identified 48 children with significant potential and one with exceptional promise, offering them opportunities to further develop their athletic skills.
Professor John Brewer from the University of Suffolk acknowledges the system’s potential while noting its limitations. He emphasizes that while the AI provides valuable initial insights, it may not fully capture attributes crucial for technical sports or those requiring extensive endurance. “If they are revealing skill and agility which suggests that they are able to have talent in a particular sport then that has to be encouraged,” he says, highlighting the system's role in broadening access to talent identification.
Young athletes like Tacto have already experienced the system’s impact, with Tacto being identified as a potential sprinter despite his current preference for football and tennis. Similarly, former collegiate athletes Hank and Brock engaged with the system, finding their results surprising Hank was recommended for rugby, while Brock received a basketball suggestion, a sport he had never played before.
This AI-powered system represents a significant advancement in athletic talent identification, democratizing access to sophisticated assessment tools and uncovering potential talent in previously underserved areas. By integrating these technologies, the future of sports talent scouting is poised to become more inclusive and far-reaching.
