AI Unveiled: Revolutionizing the Wimbledon Experience

The world of tennis is about to get a whole lot more exciting, thanks to the innovative use of AI technology at Wimbledon. In a groundbreaking partnership, IBM and The All England Lawn Tennis Club have unveiled a new generative AI feature, ‘Catch Me Up,’ designed to enhance the Wimbledon digital experience by providing personalized player stories and analysis.

Tennis fans are in for a treat with the new AI-powered ‘Catch Me Up’ feature

The feature, developed using IBM’s Granite large language model (LLM) through the watsonx platform, aims to keep tennis fans informed about their favorite players throughout the tournament. According to Jonathan Adashek, IBM’s SVP of Marketing and Communications, “The new ‘Catch Me Up’ feature is an exciting example of how we can use the power of generative AI to deliver compelling, insight-driven storytelling at scale.”

Catch Me Up offers pre- and post-match player cards with AI-generated content on wimbledon.com and the Wimbledon 2024 App. The player cards, tailored to user preferences and data from myWimbledon profiles, deliver pre-match performance analyses and predictions, along with post-match statistics and highlights. Additionally, the feature will generate daily summaries of play.

AI-generated player cards provide personalized insights and analysis

Built using IBM’s Granite LLM, the AI-generated text adheres to Wimbledon’s editorial style and is monitored by the All England Club. The innovation enables Wimbledon to scale its content, providing fans with timely, curated coverage across all singles matches, often happening concurrently.

This year, Wimbledon is leveraging generative AI to cover a broader range of matches, including wheelchair events, enhancing the diversity of its international audience. These updates are part of a redesigned digital match centre, IBM Slamtracker, accessible via the Wimbledon App and wimbledon.com.

The enhanced IBM Slamtracker offers a more comprehensive and engaging experience for tennis fans

A recent survey by IBM and Morning Consult reveals that a majority of tennis fans globally, and specifically in the UAE, view AI positively. The research found that 55 per cent of global tennis fans believe AI will positively impact sports, with even higher optimism among UAE fans.

“Technology is revolutionizing the way we experience sports, and Wimbledon is at the forefront of this innovation.” - [Author’s Name]

The survey also highlighted that 25 per cent of UAE sports fans use two devices simultaneously while watching sports, compared to a global average of 22 per cent. Among UAE fans aged 18-29, 10 per cent use three or more devices, mirroring the global average.

Fans are increasingly using multiple devices to enhance their sports viewing experience

As AI continues to transform the world of sports, it’s clear that Wimbledon is leading the charge. With its innovative use of generative AI, the tournament is set to provide an unparalleled experience for tennis fans around the world.

The future of tennis has arrived, and it’s powered by AI