News/Sports
No, the NFL’s AI-powered “Digital Athlete” is not a companion
The NFL has partnered with Amazon Web Services to develop Digital Athlete, an AI-powered injury prediction tool that analyzes data from all 32 teams to help keep players healthier. The system processes massive amounts of player data from sensors, cameras, and tracking technology to identify injury risks and optimize training schedules, representing a significant shift toward data-driven player safety in professional sports. How it works: Digital Athlete uses sensors in shoulder pads, cameras, and optical tracking to gather comprehensive data from practice and games across all NFL teams. The system generates about 500 million data points weekly—the same amount NextGen...
read Oct 13, 2025Major League Soccer publishes AI-generated match summaries without human review
Major League Soccer has quietly launched AI-generated match summaries that are published without human editorial review, sparking widespread criticism from fans and sports journalists. The automated recaps, clearly labeled as "Created by MLS Generative AI," represent a cost-cutting measure that critics argue undermines authentic sports journalism and threatens writing jobs in the industry. What you should know: MLS published at least two AI-generated match summaries on Saturday night, with disclaimers noting the content "has not been reviewed by editorial staff." The league published recaps for Inter Miami CF versus Atlanta United (9:34 p.m. Eastern) and Orlando City SC versus the...
read Oct 1, 2025AWS and NBA double (dribble) up with AI platform for basketball analytics and fan experiences
Amazon Web Services has announced a multi-year partnership with the National Basketball Association to launch "NBA Inside the Game," an AI-powered platform that transforms game data into insights and interactive experiences. The collaboration positions AWS to capitalize on the growing intersection of sports analytics and artificial intelligence, while giving the NBA advanced tools to enhance fan engagement and team strategy analysis. What you should know: The platform will deliver AI-driven basketball analytics across multiple NBA channels and provide teams with strategic insights. "NBA Inside the Game" will offer features for live broadcasts and be integrated into the NBA App, website,...
readGet SIGNAL/NOISE in your inbox daily
All Signal, No Noise
One concise email to make you smarter on AI daily.
Tom Brady rubs shoulders with AI massage company Aescape as new innovation chief
Tom Brady is joining forces with Aescape, the world's first robotic massage technology company, in what sources describe as a merger that will make him Chief Innovation Officer. The partnership aims to expand Aescape's reach from luxury hotels and gyms into professional sports facilities and potentially the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, while democratizing access to high-quality massage therapy through AI-powered robotics. What you should know: Brady will share his longevity and recovery protocols with Aescape while his business partner Alex Spiro, a prominent attorney who has represented Jay-Z and Elon Musk, joins as a strategic advisor in exchange for equity.•...
read Sep 23, 2025Meta’s AI wrongly bans teen rock (climber) star, destroying sponsorship deals
Mitchell Boyer, a 16-year-old rock climber ranked second nationally and seventh globally in speed climbing, has been permanently locked out of his Instagram account after Meta's AI wrongly flagged it for "child exploitation and sexual content." The ban has disrupted his sponsorship deals and international athletic connections, highlighting broader issues with automated content moderation that has affected thousands of users worldwide. What you should know: Boyer used his Instagram account, built over seven years, primarily for athletic promotion and securing sponsorships that helped fund his international climbing career. His sponsors provided equipment like climbing shoes (costing upwards of $250 per...
read Sep 19, 2025Not your grandfather’s Friday night fights: Techies flock to robot boxing matches in SF
San Francisco's tech community has embraced an unusual Friday night entertainment: humanoid robot boxing matches that draw hundreds of spectators to underground venues. The AI boom has fueled a broader resurgence of live events in the city, with tech workers seeking memorable experiences beyond traditional networking gatherings as a way to connect and decompress from work. The big picture: San Francisco's cultural scene is experiencing a renaissance driven by the AI boom, with nearly 2,000 live events held last month—nearly double from a year ago—and AI-focused events rising more than four times to 578, according to Luma, an event platform....
read Sep 11, 2025Amazon Prime Video adds AI “Pocket Health” QB threat levels to NFL broadcasts
Amazon Prime Video has launched new AI-powered features for its Thursday Night Football broadcasts, including "Pocket Health," which analyzes offensive line data to visualize quarterback threat levels in real-time. The enhancements represent Amazon's continued investment in AI-driven sports analytics, building on existing machine learning tools to differentiate its NFL coverage and provide viewers with deeper tactical insights. What you should know: Amazon's latest AI features focus on providing tactical analysis that wasn't previously available to television audiences. Pocket Health uses AI to analyze "tens of thousands of data points" across the offensive line during plays, creating on-screen visuals that indicate...
read Sep 5, 2025Amazon Nova fuels F1-inspired AI racing experience for fans
Amazon Nova is powering the Real-Time Race Track (RTRT), an interactive Formula 1-inspired experience that lets fans design custom racing circuits while receiving AI-generated strategic insights and shareable racing posters. The multimodal AI platform addresses growing fan expectations for participatory sports content by combining text, speech, image, and data processing in real-time while maintaining cost-efficiency for scalable deployment. What you should know: The RTRT transforms passive F1 viewers into active participants through a comprehensive circuit design experience powered by Amazon Nova's multimodal capabilities. Fans can draw racing tracks of different lengths and shapes while receiving real-time AI recommendations for modifications....
read Sep 3, 2025Future sport activity sees 4-legged robot ANYmal play badminton with humans
Scientists at ETH Zürich have successfully trained a four-legged robot called ANYmal to play badminton against human opponents, achieving rallies of up to 10 shots through advanced AI and reinforcement learning. The breakthrough demonstrates how quadruped robots can master complex sports requiring coordinated whole-body movement and real-time visual perception, potentially opening new applications for disaster relief and debris removal operations. What you should know: ANYmal combines sophisticated hardware with AI-powered learning to compete in dynamic sports scenarios. The robot weighs 110 pounds, stands 5 feet 3 inches tall with an attached arm, and operates 18 joints simultaneously across four legs...
read Sep 2, 2025AI startup “WagerGPT” and more chase $150B sports gambling market with mixed results
A growing number of entrepreneurs are developing AI-powered gambling tools, betting that artificial intelligence can give ordinary bettors an edge in the rapidly expanding online sports betting market. While some claim success rates of 56-60 percent compared to standard odds of 52 percent, the field remains largely experimental with no clear wave of newly minted millionaires emerging from AI-assisted gambling. The big picture: The convergence of America's booming $150 billion sports betting industry with the AI gold rush has created a cottage industry of startups promising to turn bots into winning bet-makers. Americans spent over $150 billion on sports-related wagers...
read Sep 1, 2025NBA star Tristan Thompson launches TracyAI for real-time basketball analytics
NBA star Tristan Thompson has launched TracyAI, an artificial intelligence platform that provides real-time NBA analysis and predictive insights using professional-level data typically unavailable to the public. The venture positions Thompson as an early mover in applying AI to sports analytics, targeting what he sees as an underserved market within the rapidly growing AI industry projected to reach $3.6 trillion by 2034. What you should know: TracyAI differentiates itself by accessing professional team-level analytics that aren't available through traditional sports media channels.• "Imagine a sports analyst or commentator on steroids," Thompson explained. "What I mean by that is having all...
read Aug 29, 2025Dr Pepper uses mixed reality, AI, and a little carbonation to transform college football marketing
Dr Pepper is expanding its college football marketing strategy with mixed reality experiences, AI-powered activations, and a commercial-free sponsorship of "The Pat McAfee Show" on ESPN. The beverage brand is deepening its ties with Disney and ESPN to reach college football fans through innovative technology and premium content partnerships. What you should know: Dr Pepper's enhanced college football playbook leverages cutting-edge technology to create immersive fan experiences during the sport's most popular season. The brand is incorporating mixed reality elements that blend physical and digital experiences, allowing fans to interact with virtual content overlaid on real-world environments. AI-powered marketing activations...
read Aug 27, 2025AI concession tech at Boston’s TD Garden, Fenway Park sparks worker displacement debate
AI-powered concession technology at Boston sports venues has sparked debate over job displacement, with three readers offering contrasting perspectives on automation's impact on stadium workers. The discussion centers around Amazon's Just Walk Out technology implemented at TD Garden and similar systems at Fenway Park, highlighting broader tensions between technological efficiency and worker welfare. What they're saying: Three distinct viewpoints emerge from readers responding to concerns about AI replacing concession workers. Charlie Tillett from Wayland argues that technological disruption is inevitable: "Just because a workflow is being disrupted by utilizing artificial intelligence does not mean we should be locked into the...
read Aug 21, 2025Microsoft brings AI-powered Copilot to NFL sidelines for real-time coaching
Microsoft has extended its NFL partnership to integrate AI-powered features into the familiar sideline Surface tablets, introducing GitHub Copilot-based play filtering and Microsoft 365 Copilot dashboards for game analysis. The multiyear deal transforms the existing Surface tablet infrastructure into an AI-driven coaching tool that could fundamentally change how teams make strategic decisions during games. What you should know: The enhanced system connects every NFL team's sideline viewing setup to more than 2,500 Surface Copilot Plus PCs, complete with prominent "Copilot" branding. A GitHub Copilot-based feature filters plays and makes strategy recommendations based on current game situations. Microsoft 365 Copilot powers...
read Aug 21, 2025ESPN launches AI-included $20-30 streaming service with 47K live events
ESPN launched its revamped streaming service today, marking a significant shift in how the sports media giant delivers content to cord-cutting audiences. The updated app integrates live streaming capabilities with ESPN's existing digital platform, offering sports fans a comprehensive alternative to traditional cable subscriptions. This launch represents ESPN's most aggressive push into direct-to-consumer streaming, positioning the network to compete directly with other sports-focused streaming services while capitalizing on the ongoing decline of traditional pay-TV subscriptions. Two-tier pricing structure targets different viewer segments ESPN's streaming service offers two distinct subscription options designed to capture both casual and dedicated sports fans. The...
read Aug 18, 2025Boston sports workers cry foul (ball) as AI-powered self-checkout systems slash income
AI-powered self-checkout systems are transforming concession operations at major Boston sports venues, including Fenway Park and TD Garden, but workers are experiencing significant income losses and reduced hours. The technology represents a broader shift as artificial intelligence moves beyond manufacturing into service industries, fundamentally altering not just job availability but compensation structures and workplace dynamics. What you should know: Sports venues across Boston have deployed AI checkout systems that dramatically reduce staffing needs while boosting sales for operators. Fenway Park installed six Mashgin AI-powered checkout machines in 2023, which use computer vision algorithms to identify products and process payments automatically....
read Aug 18, 2025On your marks, get set, bleep! China hosts World Humanoid Robot Games with 280 teams from 16 countries
China launched the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Friday, featuring 280 teams from 16 countries competing in sports and practical challenges. The three-day event showcases China's growing investment in robotics and AI as the nation positions itself as a leader in humanoid technology while collecting valuable data for real-world applications. What you should know: The competition included both traditional sports adaptations and robot-specific challenges designed to test practical capabilities. Teams competed in track and field, table tennis, and football, alongside tasks like sorting medicines, handling materials, and cleaning services. 192 teams represented universities while 88 came from private...
read Jul 28, 2025Premier League transforms fan experience with new AI assistant for 900M fans
The Premier League has launched an expansive AI-powered transformation in partnership with Microsoft, introducing new digital tools to enhance fan engagement and modernize its operations. The five-year strategic partnership, announced in July, represents one of the most significant technology transformations in the League's 33-year history as it seeks to better serve its global audience of 900 million homes across 189 countries. What's driving the change: The Premier League is fundamentally reshaping its role from primarily selling media rights to directly engaging with fans through digital products and services. "Historically, the mandate of the Premier League and the role has been...
read Jul 25, 2025M3GAN protection? Unitree’s $5.9K humanoid robot does kickboxing, but isn’t ready for home use
John Cusack claimed kickboxing was the sport of the future in the 1989 film, "Say Anything...." Turns out he was on to something. Unitree has unveiled the R1 Intelligent Companion, a $5,900 humanoid robot that demonstrates advanced movement capabilities including kickboxing, cartwheels, and handstands. At under $6,000, the R1 represents a significant pricing breakthrough in the humanoid robotics market, where comparable models typically cost between $16,000 and $90,000. Key specifications: The R1 stands about four feet tall and weighs roughly 55 pounds, featuring binocular vision, LLM-powered image and voice recognition, and 26 joints. The robot includes a 4-microphone array, speakers,...
read Jul 18, 2025Netflix has strong second-quarter while moving into live sports, AI experimentation
Netflix exceeded Wall Street's second-quarter expectations with strong performance driven by popular returning shows and live programming, while providing optimistic guidance for the rest of 2025. The streaming giant's strategic expansion into live sports, events, and AI-powered content creation signals its evolution beyond traditional on-demand viewing as it seeks new growth avenues after dominating the first phase of the streaming wars. What you should know: Netflix's financial performance surpassed analyst predictions, though shares dipped slightly in after-hours trading despite a remarkable 128% stock surge over the past year to around $1,253 per share. The company maintained its content spending guidance...
read Jul 16, 2025This ain’t Pelé: China tests humanoid robots on soccer fields in rare tech reveal
CNN Business reporter Marc Stewart gained exclusive access to China's AI-powered robotics industry, including a company testing humanoid robots on soccer fields. The rare behind-the-scenes look highlights China's strategic push to dominate advanced technologies, with applications spanning from commercial delivery services to potential military uses. What you should know: China is aggressively developing AI-powered robotics as part of its broader technological leadership strategy.• Companies are using soccer as a testing ground for humanoid robot development, providing a complex environment to refine AI capabilities and physical coordination.• The robotics applications extend far beyond sports, with potential uses in food delivery, manufacturing,...
read Jul 7, 2025IBM’s Match Chat brings AI-powered fan love to Wimbledon
IBM and the All England Lawn Tennis Club have launched Match Chat, an interactive AI chatbot powered by IBM's watsonx platform, to answer fans' real-time questions during Wimbledon singles matches. The innovation represents part of a year-round digital transformation strategy aimed at increasing fan engagement and growing tennis's global audience through "snackable content" and interactive experiences. What you should know: The new AI tools are designed to make tennis more accessible and engaging for fans during live matches. Match Chat uses IBM's Granite large language models to respond to both pre-set questions and natural language inputs from fans during singles...
read Jul 1, 2025Microsoft signs 5-year Premier League deal to showcase AI to millions
Microsoft has signed a five-year cloud computing deal with the Premier League, positioning the tech giant to showcase its AI capabilities to millions of soccer fans worldwide. The strategic partnership will migrate the world's most-watched soccer league's core technology infrastructure to Microsoft's Azure platform while integrating AI-powered chatbots across the Premier League's digital properties. What you should know: The comprehensive partnership transforms how the Premier League delivers digital experiences to its global fanbase. The Premier League will migrate its "core technology infrastructure" to Microsoft's Azure cloud-computing service over the five-year term. Microsoft's AI services will power chatbots integrated into the...
read Jun 23, 2025What do the Lakers have to do with loving BBQ ribs? Deloitte, AWS use AI to decode sports fan behavior
Deloitte and AWS are leveraging AI to analyze sports fandom and consumer behavior through Deloitte's Converge service, which synthesizes massive amounts of data to create highly personalized fan profiles. The collaboration demonstrates how AI-powered analytics can unlock deeper insights into consumer preferences across multiple industries, with media and entertainment identified as the next frontier for expansion. What you should know: Converge by Deloitte uses AI and propensity modeling to create granular profiles of sports fans, helping brands understand the intersection of team loyalty, league preferences, and consumer behavior. The service targets what marketers call "that Venn diagram of the team,...
read