AI Sports Technology For Peak Athletic Performance

In their relentless pursuit of marginal gains, it’s hardly surprising that elite athletes and their coaches have begun to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) sports technology.

Yet right from the get-go, AI in sports training was never going to be limited to just professional footballers, basketballers, and Olympians; AI sports systems can help everybody elevate their game.

For sports fans, it’s evident that AI coaching is yielding results… but knowing which teams and star athletes are embracing it most might also change your future betting strategies.

From tailored machine learning (ML) and AI training performance analysis and optimization to injury prevention, we’ll explore the hype and the possibility that AI might be creating an uneven playing field.

Personalized Training Programs Powered by AI: Customized Athlete Development

Whereas before, innovative technologies were typically reserved for the wealthiest teams and athletes on the planet, today’s AI-fueled sports technologies are available to everyone.

Popular wearable fitness trackers and gadgets such as the Fitbit, Apple Watch, and Garmin can time, track, monitor, and feedback exercise performance data by monitoring fitness metrics, including:

Taking AI sports performance technology to the next level, companies such as Humango and Athletica allow amateur and semi-professional athletes to hone their performances using AI coaching and training planning tools.

However, it is at the elite level where AI is revolutionizing individual athlete training regimes.

Discussing the topic with Neil Sahota, Chief Executive Officer ACSILabs Inc, AI advisor to the United Nations, and IBM Master Inventor, he highlighted how Novak Djokovic’s use of AI in his training has further enhanced his performance, as the 24-time Grand Slam winner continues to break records and dominate in the world of tennis.

“Djokovic employs a system developed by SAP and TIBCO which analyzes his game footage, simulates match scenarios, and offers insights into his opponent’s tendencies.

“By using this tool, Djokovic can create personalized training regimens, which highlight specific areas to improve, giving him an advantage on the court.” Sahota said.

AI-Driven Performance Analysis and Optimization: Smarter Decisions, Better Results

You might think AI’s influence would be limited to technique-driven sports such as golf, tennis, and baseball, but AI algorithms can be used to analyze and improve an athlete’s technique across the full spectrum of sports.

Firms such as Forceteck and Second Spectrum use AI-driven performance analysis, which leverages video and data analytics – during training or in competition – to uncover critical performance and biomechanical data.

Applications such as wearable motion sensors and video capture can calculate real-time metrics such as the speed of an athlete’s acceleration, response time, and joint angles.

“One such example is FC Barcelona’s partnership with the AI platform, OLIVER,” said Sahota.

Sahota explained, “This AI tool equips players with GPS trackers during training and matches, gathering data on movement, speed, heart rate, and more. The platform processes this data in real-time, enabling coaches to analyze performance metrics, identify strengths and weaknesses, and make real-time decisions to adjust tactics”.

“Similarly, SAP’s Match Insights in football (soccer) can track and analyze players’ every move, providing insights that can significantly alter game strategy.”

AI Sports Technology in Injury Prevention

In any sport, nothing can derail a team’s or an athlete’s pursuit of victory quite like an injury – but AI sports technology is stepping up to the plate here, too.

Thanks to real-time AI analysis, coaches can accurately monitor and assess an athlete’s biomechanics, using specialist algorithms trained to seek out actions and movements that could increase the likelihood of causing an injury such as a muscle pull or tear.

Even in contact sports such as the NFL and the English Premier League (EPL), AI systems have proven that athletes can avoid contact injuries by changing a player’s mindset before impact.

These analytical AI coaching aids could prove pivotal in preventing serious injuries.

A point Sahota illustrated, saying, “Today, AI systems like Catapult Sports are already being used to track and analyze athletes’ biometrics, enabling teams to predict injuries before they occur.

“For example, the NBA has adopted Catapult to monitor player fatigue and stress levels, helping to reduce the risk of injury. But the future of AI in sports is about more than just preventing injuries; it’s about actively managing an athlete’s workload to preserve their career longevity.”

The Ethics of Uneven Competition: Accessibility and Fairness in AI Technology

Despite all the fanfare of AI’s glittery sporting faculties, it does raise a dilemma: the unforeseen disadvantages it might provide at an elite level of sporting competition.

Addressing the subject, Sahota explained, “Currently, there are no universal regulations governing how AI can be applied in sports training, leaving room for inconsistencies. This lack of oversight could lead to wealthier teams and athletes gaining an unfair advantage, as they can afford to invest in cutting-edge AI systems.”

Put simply, athletes from lower-income countries and backgrounds may struggle to afford all the advantages gained by advanced, expensive AI sports technologies.

Sahota acknowledges this issue, “To ensure that athletes everywhere can benefit from AI training, our efforts must focus on expanding accessibility and addressing resource gaps.

“From a United Nations perspective, making AI sports technology more equitable requires both innovative funding models and strategic partnerships.”

There are, of course, pilot schemes hoping to breach these gaps, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Intel’s collaboration with the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Senegal to demonstrate the steps needed to resolve this.

Yet, despite it being a promising initiative to help identify future Senegalese Olympic athletes, it remains a drop in the ocean in balancing the financial and technological inequalities faced.

AI — The New Frontier in Athlete Optimization

While there will always be calls for improved access for all, it’s hard to negate the positive effects AI sports training and optimization will provide.

Sahota concluded, “As AI systems continue to advance, their potential to transform professional sports extends beyond injury prevention and performance optimization.”

He went on, “AI is on the brink of becoming a tool that not only forecasts when athletes are at their peak but also extends their careers.

“With real-time data analysis and predictive algorithms, AI could fundamentally change how athletes manage their physical and mental health over time, allowing them to play longer and perform better.”

A consequence of this is that we get to see more star athletes extend their sporting careers.

Ultimately, natural talent will always rise to the top, but with AI sports technology’s support, we may be on the verge of witnessing an entirely new standard of sporting competition.