Alibaba Group Holding’s cloud computing unit will transform the way Olympic content is transmitted and viewed, marking a significant milestone in sports broadcasting history.
On July 25, Alibaba Cloud partnered with Olympic Broadcast Services (OBS) to launch OBS Cloud 3.0, an innovative AI-enhanced platform designed to be the primary means of content delivery for the Paris Games. This marks a revolutionary change and the end of history. Satellite broadcasting has been a staple of the Olympic Games since it was first introduced at the 1964 Tokyo Games.
by South China Morning PostOBS Cloud 3.0 provides media with unparalleled access to images and video from the Olympic Games. As the official Olympic broadcaster run by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), OBS is responsible for coordinating the distribution of coverage and ensuring all the action is tuned in to billions of people around the world.
The move to cloud-based distribution is a first in Olympic history. Alibaba highlighted that “for the first time in Olympic history” its cloud platform will be the primary means of content distribution, which is not surprising. The novelty of this step is underscored by its timing: it coincides substantially with the global rise of AI, which has been spearheaded by OpenAI’s ChatGPT since October 2022.
The use of AI technology in Olympic broadcasting will be more than just a new delivery method. For example, Alibaba plans to use its own large-scale language model to assist official commentators during the Olympics. With AI support, the quality of commentary will be improved, making it more insightful and in-depth for viewers.
Alibaba isn’t the only company bringing AI innovation to the Paris Olympics, with other tech giants and startups also lending their expertise.
- Chinese AI startup SenseTime will support the Chinese men’s national basketball team in the tournament, providing AI-powered data analysis and strategy advice in the hope that the basketball team will receive information more quickly and gain a competitive advantage.
- Intel and the International Olympic Committee developed an AI chatbot to answer technical, logistical, and general questions for athletes living in the Olympic Village in Paris. The chatbot, AthleteGPT, enhances the athlete experience by providing the information they need quickly and accurately.
- To highlight its AI products and technology, Google has partnered with NBCUniversal, one of the main broadcasters of the Olympics. Using Google’s technology, viewers will be able to access 3D maps of Olympic venues and an advanced information search system that will allow them to access detailed information about specific sports.
One of the most exciting things about working with the broadcast cloud is that for the first time ever, we will be able to deliver Olympic content in ultra-high definition. Not only will the picture quality be unmatched, but the footage will be sharper and more visually stunning, making viewers feel like they are so close to the athletes.
Selina Yuan, president of international business at Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, expressed great optimism about the collaboration with OBS, noting that it will not only transform the Olympic Games viewing experience, but also demonstrate how advanced technology can be meaningful to people around the world.
The Paris Olympics’ choice of AI and cloud technology follows a general trend in the sports industry, where interest in sports is on the rise and the digital revolution is influencing how events are broadcast, analyzed and experienced. With the rapid development of AI, it’s entirely possible that in a decade’s time, the Olympics will be using more advanced versions of the technology, revolutionizing training, player performance analysis, club and fan interaction, and more.
(Image courtesy of David)
Also read: Alibaba Cloud closes data centers in Australia and India, contradicting previous claims
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