X Games Introduces AI Judge for Snowboarding Event: A Glimpse into the Future of Sports Judging
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Was that a 900 or 1080 on the halfpipe? X Games can now ask AI.
At this week's Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado, judges will carefully cast their eyes over the athletes, as they have since the first edition of the games in 1997, scrutinizing each spin, flip and grab. But this year, another party will be unofficially weighing in as well: an AI judge. During
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AI experiment in halfpipe judging at X Games will give snowboarders a glimpse into the future
The X Games will experiment judging halfpipe runs this week in Aspen using artificial intelligence, the cutting-edge technology that could someday play a role in the way subjectively judged sports are scored. Long a trendsetter in action sports, the X Games and its new CEO, freestyle skiing great
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AI experiment in halfpipe judging at X Games will give snowboarders a glimpse into the future
The X Games will experiment judging halfpipe runs this week in Aspen using artificial intelligence, the cutting-edge technology that could someday play a role in the way subjectively judged sports are scored. Long a trendsetter in action sports, the X Games and its new CEO, freestyle skiing great
[4]
Winter X Games Will Test A.I. Judging for Snowboarding
Snowboarding is the latest sport to embrace technology as a judge, at least partly, at this week's X Games. At this week's winter X Games in Aspen, Colo., judges will carefully cast their eyes over the athletes, as they have since the first edition of the games in 1997, scrutinizing each spin,
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X Games adds new twist: An artificial intelligence judge for snowboard event
A new study shows that rising Gen Z and millennial workplace leaders are embracing artificial intelligence tools in their industries. The Winter X Games will have an entirely new participant when the sports event slides into action later this week: an artificially intelligent judge. During the X
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X Games will experiment with an AI judge for the first time this week in a new collaboration with Google
The X Games have always been about pushing boundaries, and this weekend in Aspen, it's about to do so yet again -- by showcasing a new way to judge competitions. The X Games will debut an AI judge for the first time in Aspen during its upcoming event starting on January 23, showcasing new
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X Games will test AI from Google Cloud for judging snowboarding competitions
The aim is to deepen fan engagement, and provide valuable insights that resonate with both fans and athletes, said Jeremy Bloom, CEO of X Games and a veteran of the sports business, in an interview with GamesBeat. X Games will debut a new experimental AI technology developed in collaboration with
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The Winter X Games 2025 in Aspen is set to debut an experimental AI judge for snowboarding events, potentially revolutionizing how subjective sports are scored.
AI Judging Debuts at Winter X Games 2025
The Winter X Games 2025 in Aspen, Colorado, is set to introduce a groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) judge for snowboarding events, marking a significant step towards integrating technology into subjective sports scoring
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. This experimental AI, developed in collaboration with Google Cloud, will analyze and score competitors in the snowboard SuperPipe events, although its judgments won't affect official results this year4
.The Technology Behind AI Judging
The AI judge utilizes Google's Vertex AI development platform and a network of high-definition cameras to capture and analyze snowboarders' runs
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. Trained on thousands of hours of halfpipe footage and judging criteria, the system can assess various aspects of a performance, including trick difficulty, execution, and landing quality2
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.Jeremy Bloom, the new CEO of X Games and a former freestyle skier, explains: "It's going to watch every millisecond of a run, and be able to judge things like economy of motion, which is important to superpipe snowboarding ... It can see if a rider drags their hand, which is a point deduction"
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.Potential Impact on Sports Judging
While human judges will still determine official scores and medals, the AI's evaluations will be visible to commentators and TV audiences
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. This technology could potentially serve as a powerful tool for human judges, enhancing objectivity in subjective sports2
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.Bloom envisions AI as a "superpower" for judges, stating, "What if we could give judges superpowers and they could see things they couldn't see with the human eye, and this technology could help inform them?"
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Broader Implications for Sports
The introduction of AI judging at the X Games reflects a growing trend of technology integration in sports officiating. From automated line calls in tennis to offside rulings in soccer, technology is increasingly being used to enhance accuracy and fairness in sports
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.The International Olympic Committee has acknowledged the potential of AI in reducing human bias in judging and offering real-time analysis, although it's still in the early stages of implementation
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.Future Prospects and Challenges
While the current implementation is experimental, there are plans to expand AI judging to other X Games events and potentially other subjective sports
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. However, Bloom doesn't foresee AI completely replacing human judges: "I don't think this replaces the judges, but I think it gives them power to ensure objectivity"2
.As this technology develops, it may also benefit athletes in their training by providing detailed insights into their performances and helping them understand scoring criteria better
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.The introduction of AI judging at the X Games represents a significant step towards modernizing sports officiating. As the technology evolves, it could potentially reshape how subjective sports are judged, bringing increased accuracy and objectivity to these events.
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