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IBM to harness AI for Wimbledon video highlights

IBM Watson auto-curates highlights based on analysis of crowd noise, players' movements and match data

IBM and The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) have teamed up to develop new AI technologies for The Championships 2018.

Wimbledon and IBM will harness the power of AI and huge data sets to deliver enhanced automated video highlights for fans.

IBM Watson auto-curates highlights based on analysis of crowd noise, players’ movements and match data to help simplify the highlight video production process and focus on key moments in the match.

This allows the Wimbledon editorial team to scale and accelerate the video production process for highlight packages and expand the number of potential matches that are turned into timely highlight videos for fans to watch and share.

Also being introduced is The Wimbledon Messenger, a social assistant for those off-site, which utilises the Watson Assistant chatbot capability and is delivered within Facebook Messenger. The Bot will allow fans to access tailored information on scores, news and players while driving engagement back to the official platforms. The Wimbledon Messenger experience complements ‘Fred,’ Wimbledon’s in-app AI assistant which launched in 2017.

Meanwhile, IBM SlamTracker has been redesigned for 2018 to provide alternative views to different types of fan. Viewers will be encouraged to engage in the in-match experience using different types of media from match highlights to real-time scores to social interactions.

“With help from IBM, we are extending the availability of our ‘Ask Fred” AI assistant into Facebook Messenger, allowing fans to access tailored information on scores, news and players with in a social platform,” explained Alexandra Willis, head of communications, content & digital at the AELTC. “It’s also fitting that in this, our 150th anniversary year, that we are using AI technology to design our unique celebratory poster.

“A genuine combination of design and data to provide fans with the unique Wimbledon experience they expect and more. What’s so interesting is how the applications and the role Watson can play seem to expand every year.”

“People are judging Wimbledon on the experience they had last month, or even yesterday,” added Sam Seddon, Wimbledon client & programme executive, IBM. “Technology plays a really important role in making their digital channels the most engaging place to experience The Championships. Increasingly, the AELTC is embracing the role of AI as being a foundation of that digital experience and strategy.”