Infosys, a major IT company, is set to deploy generative technologies at the 2024 Australian Open, aiming to enhance fan engagement, player performance, and digital content creation. The company will be using GenAI, which has been widely adopted across various industries, to bring a new dimension to the tennis tournament. This collaboration with Tennis Australia will see the deployment of Infosys Topaz, featuring AI-first offerings like large language models and cognitive core to advance the AI journey of the organization. Andrew Groth, Executive Vice President Asia Pacific, Infosys, expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating that it will enable the company to innovate across digital and physical touchpoints and offer engaging experiences to players, fans, and the media.
Fans attending the AO Grand Slam can look forward to various AI-driven experiences, including the AO 2024 Bracket Challenge vs AI, where they can predict match winners, GenAI Story Cards providing contextual insights during matches, AI Match Bytes creating visual match storytelling, and the Win Predictor tracking real-time match probabilities. In addition, fans will have the opportunity to take selfies with tennis legends Iga Swiatek and Rafael Nadal through augmented reality (AR). Notably, Rafael Nadal is the ambassador for Infosys’ Brand and Digital Innovation, while Iga Swiatek was appointed as the company’s Global Brand Ambassador last year.
Virtual Reality will also play a significant role in the fan experience, allowing them to play against Rafael Nadal and win his graffiti portraits. Despite Nadal’s absence from this year’s Australian Open due to injury, fans can still celebrate his achievements through generative technologies.
Craig Tiley, CEO of Tennis Australia and Australian Open Tournament Director, expressed his excitement about the collaboration, stating that AI is bringing new dimensions of interactivity for fans and insight for players, in addition to accelerating content delivery.
In addition to the technological advancements, Infosys and the Australian Open are also working together to provide digital skilling opportunities for students in their 10th and 11th year of school, from metropolitan Melbourne, regional Victoria, and New South Wales.
In my opinion, this collaboration between Infosys and Tennis Australia marks a significant step towards leveraging AI and generative technologies to enhance the overall fan experience and bring new dimensions of interactivity to the world of sports. It demonstrates the potential for technology to revolutionize the way sporting events are experienced and opens up new opportunities for engaging with fans and players alike.