Babbage from The Economist (subscriber edition) Game on: AI is coming for sport
Jan 29, 2025
In this engaging discussion, former professional volleyball player Abby Bertics, sports data analyst James Tozer, and Google DeepMind's Petar Veličković delve into the transformative impact of AI on sports. They explore how AI is revolutionizing strategies in basketball and soccer, enhancing player recruitment and game tactics. The guests share insights on predicting injuries, analyzing player interactions using graph neural networks, and the challenges AI faces in capturing the complexities of human performance on the field.
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Michael Jordan's Inefficient Shots
- Michael Jordan's mid-range jump shots in basketball were deemed inefficient by AI analysis.
- Stepping back for a three-pointer offered the same likelihood of success with an extra point.
The Rise of the Three-Pointer
- AI-driven analysis revealed that three-point shots in basketball, despite lower accuracy, offer a higher point potential.
- This insight revolutionized basketball strategy, prioritizing three-pointers and smaller players.
Data-Driven Rugby Victory
- James Tozer, while at The Economist, consulted for England's rugby team, applying data analysis.
- Three years later, England beat New Zealand, partially using insights from Tozer's Economist article.
