- NBC has announced an innovative approach for this summer’s Olympic Games: utilising artificial intelligence to recreate the voice of legendary sportscaster Al Michaels for daily recaps.
- This development marks a significant milestone in the application of artificial intelligence within the media industry.
OUR TAKE
NBC has gone big with the Olympics. They actually used AI to recreate the voice of legendary sports anchor Al Michaels to do a daily game review, which is quite an imagination! I remember that before, there were AI imitating celebrities to draw pictures and write songs, and now they directly “speak”. Although uncle Michaels was skeptical at first, he nodded when he saw the finished product, which was really a surprise and delight. But then again, while technology makes it easier to recall, without the temperature of live broadcast, it feels like eating frozen food, without the taste of cooking.
–Miurio huang, BTW reporter
What happened
NBC has announced an innovative approach for this summer’s Olympic Games: utilising artificial intelligence to recreate the voice of legendary sportscaster Al Michaels for daily recaps. This AI-powered initiative will be featured on NBC’s Peacock streaming platform, providing subscribers with a unique way to stay updated on the Summer Games.
The new tool, titled “Your Daily Olympic Recap on Peacock,” will offer 10-minute highlight packages, encompassing event updates, athlete backstories, and other related content tailored to subscriber preferences. These personalised recaps can be generated in about 7 million different variations, drawing from 5,000 hours of live coverage in Paris. NBC assured that a team of NBC Sports editors would oversee the content to ensure factual accuracy and correct pronunciation.
Michaels, known for his illustrious broadcasting career, including his current role as the play-by-play sportscaster for Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime, expressed initial skepticism about the project. “When I was approached about this, I was skeptical but obviously curious.”
However, after seeing a demonstration, he was intrigued and agreed to participate. NBC revealed that Michaels is being compensated for his involvement. The AI system was trained using previous NBC broadcast audio from Michaels to ensure a faithful recreation of his voice.
Starting July 27, the highlights tool will be accessible on Peacock through web browsers and iOS and iPadOS apps.
Also read: ‘Luobo Kuaipao’: Fear and excitement as China embraces robotaxis
Also read: Singapore minister emphasises the necessity of world AI framework
Why it’s important
This development marks a significant milestone in the application of artificial intelligence within the media industry. The use of an AI-generated voice for Olympics recaps showcases the rapid advancements in AI technology, particularly in its capability to create lifelike sound, images, and text. For NBC, this initiative represents a leap forward in providing a more efficient and personalised viewing experience for its audience.
The decision to employ AI in such a high-profile manner raises important questions about the future role of artificial intelligence in creative industries like journalism and broadcasting. As AI technology continues to evolve, it prompts a broader discussion about its potential applications and the ethical considerations that accompany its use.
By integrating AI in this innovative way, NBC is not only enhancing its content delivery but also setting a precedent for how media companies might leverage technology to augment their offerings. The success of this initiative could pave the way for more widespread use of AI in broadcasting, influencing how content is created, personalised, and consumed in the future.
Furthermore, the involvement of a well-respected figure like Al Michaels lends credibility and a sense of familiarity to the project, potentially easing any apprehensions from viewers about the use of AI-generated voices. This blend of cutting-edge technology with the trusted voice of a broadcasting legend highlights the potential for AI to complement, rather than replace, human talent in the media industry.
