Expanding AI in sporting events at the Tour de France

And that’s not all. By integrating IoT and edge, NTT also created a digital twin of the race connecting layers of real-time information replicating all aspects of the event. The fact that the Tour de France covers thousands of miles and is constantly moving makes it a real test of the digital twin, unlike other events that take place in fixed stadiums. NTT appropriately calling it the world’s “largest ‘connected stadium.”

How does it work?

The technology combines machine learning, speech recognition, natural language processing and conversational AI. Marianne is specifically trained on relevant race information and then uses ChatGPT to ensure the user experience is as immersive and interactive as possible.

It’s a very complex data- gathering process, which relies on geolocation sensors, IoT, microwave signals and edge computing. These technologies then feed the information to the relevant applications.

How can ChatGPT build on technology to meet human innovation?

In its infancy, the system was tested at this year's race in the hope that Marianne could respond to more questions over time and introduce a human element to a large language model (LLM). It can leverage real-time data through the NTT analytics platform and as a result, answer specific questions related to the then and now. For example, if someone wants to know what the weather is doing or who is currently leading the race, Marianne can provide the information instantly.

This innovative approach poses the question of what this new world with ChatGPT might look like. There has been plenty of discussion about how ChatGPT can be used to drive idea generation and divergent thinking. The potential to assist with problem-solving, market research, user experience design, accessibility, and much more can significantly accelerate the pace of human innovation and drive positive advancements in technology. It is crucial, however, that AI tools are used responsibly, considering potential biases and ensuring that human values and ethics are integrated into the development process.

What does this mean for the future of sporting events or events in general?

A question that many are now asking is how this will shape future events. Enhanced connectivity, flexible computing platforms and low latency data collection have meant that organizations can become more efficient and enable new types of attendee engagement.

The integration of ChatGPT heralds a new era of personalization, efficiency, and engagement. From enhancing event planning and organization to creating immersive hybrid and virtual experiences, the potential of ChatGPT to transform events is immense.

However, as we embrace this AI revolution, it is essential to strike a balance between leveraging technology and preserving the essence of human interactions that make events truly memorable. By harnessing the power of ChatGPT responsibly, you can expect events to become even more enriching, inspiring, and inclusive. Here are just a couple of ways AI and ChatGPT could revolutionize the events world:

Real-time assistance and engagement

During events, like the Tour de France, ChatGPT can be integrated, whether this is via apps or websites, to provide real-time assistance for attendees. Imagine an AI-powered chatbot that instantly answered your question about a schedule, speaker or location.? This type of support will only help create a more seamless event experience, and in turn, allow visitors to fully immerse themselves in the event.

Personalized experiences

This is arguably one of the most significant ways ChatGPT will change future events, by harnessing the power of AI to gather attendee data and preferences before the event. This information could allow ChatGPT to create things like tailored schedules and, relevant workshops or even recommend networking opportunities based on attendee interests.

New technology advances can have adverse impacts. What could this look like?

While ChatGPT and other similar language models offer numerous benefits and applications, they also come with potential concerns. What could this look like?

• Spread of misinformation: ChatGPT can generate incredibly plausible-sounding but possibly inaccurate responses, and therefore result in the spread of misinformation. The system is trained on specific data but it could inadvertently produce false or misleading information.
• Ethical concerns: Deploying ChatGPT without proper safeguarding measures could raise ethical concerns. There is the potential for it to be used for malicious purposes, such as generating harmful content, scamming or spreading propaganda.
• Job displacement: As AI improves, people are increasingly worried about the potential of job displacement in various sectors, particularly industries that rely heavily on repetitive or information-based tasks. Jobs in customer support, content generation or data analysis are examples.
• Security vulnerability: AI models can be vulnerable to exploitation, such as attacks where malicious actors manipulate the model to produce harmful outputs. Things like privacy issues, where users interacting with ChatGPT may inadvertently share sensitive or personal information, which if not handled properly, could lead to privacy breaches.

Jay Boisseau, executive director and founder at the Austin Forum on Technology & Society, along with Miguel Paredes, vice president of AI & Data Science at Albertsons will be discussing this topic in more detail at the upcoming Applied Intelligence Live! event in Austin this Sept. 20-21. Their session “Trend vs Transformation: ChatGPT’s Relationship with the Enterprise”will explore how many see Generative AI solutions like ChatGPT as historic moments of technological marvel, however many others see it as something far less impactful. It’s set to be a very interesting debate.

“Smart tech meets human innovation” - the Applied Intelligence Live! Austin event will be bringting together IoT World Conference & Expo with the AI Summit for an experience that showcases the genuine business applications of IoT, AI and smart tech. Find out more here.

You can read more on this from our global editorial team at IoT World Today in the following article, "Tour De France Adds Digital Twin, ChatGPT, Edge Computing."