If there is one news item that has had the greatest impact on the world recently, it is the launch of ChatGPT. By February 2023, this new generation of conversational AI will have reached 100 million users worldwide and has managed to break out of the tech world to become the fastest-growing consumer app in history. ChatGPT uses the Transformer neural network architecture, GPT-3.5, a model for processing sequential data with language understanding and text generation capabilities. In particular, it trains the model by connecting to a large corpus of real-world conversations, giving ChatGPT the ability to interact with real humans based on the context of the chat. ChatGPT is not only a chatbot but can also write emails, and video scripts, copy, translate, code and do other tasks.
Impact on sport
Over the past few months, ChatGPT has been used in a wide range of sectors, such as education and finance, and while it has received mixed reviews, it is undeniable that ChatGPT’s influence is still growing. Take the world of sports, ChatGPT has played a significant role in this integration by providing sports enthusiasts with a range of features and tools to enhance their sports experiences. ChatGPT has revolutionised how sports are played and enjoyed, from predicting match outcomes to analysing game strategies.
Intelligent customer service — One of the most basic applications of ChatGPT in the sports sector is to act as an “intelligent customer service”. As an AI chatbot, it can help answer common questions about match attendance and participation, such as match times, ticketing information and services around the venue, enabling event organisers to respond to fans’ needs promptly while saving time and labour costs. One software, GameOn, which is the same AI chat tool as ChatGPT, has already established partnerships with seven NBA clubs, including well-known basketball clubs such as the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers,etc, as well as others such as the MLB’s Milwaukee Brewers and the NHL’s New York Islanders. Sports clubs. It is believed that more and more clubs will soon apply AI language systems to their customer service systems.
Data analysis — Another meaningful way ChatGPT influences sports is by analysing data relating to matches, training, etc., to produce inductive or predictive results. Sports fans can predict the most likely outcome of a particular game by providing ChatGPT with team statistics, player performance, historical data etc. The model can also analyse player statistics such as target shots, assists and goals to provide insight into their strengths and weaknesses. This information can be used by coaches to optimise their team strategies and tactics, allowing them to make better decisions on the court and increase their chances of winning.
Provide personalised training plans and strategies — Based on ChatGPT’s powerful analytics, it can help develop personalised training/fitness plans. For example, I have asked ChatGPT to create a fat loss plan for me, and the conversation is as follows:
As you can see, ChatGPT provided me with a more detailed fat loss plan, including exercise and diet. The more detailed personal information I provide, the more detailed and personalised the plan. The same can be applied to sports training plans and match strategies, where team coaches enter team information, training goals etc., into the chat box to get a targeted plan.
Help with sports marketing — ChatGPT also plays a role in sports marketing. Trained ChatGPT can use its powerful copy generation capabilities to assist organisers in updating social media and posting content in an organiser-like tone. At the same time, ChatGPT uses the information collected from fans to help analyse fan behaviour and help marketers develop the most effective marketing strategies.
Pros and Cons
Pros — The first advantage of ChatGPT is its accessibility. Anyone with an internet connection can access ChatGPT, regardless of location, time zone or language, making it easy to use and access anywhere. Another significant advantage is its excellent natural language processing capabilities. Compared to search engines, ChatGPT can communicate naturally with people and systems without the constraints of specific keywords and phrases, making communication more efficient. For example, intelligent customer service can cater to thousands of users by asking them questions simultaneously and providing accurate information within a specific range, saving time and greatly improving customer service efficiency.
Also, in terms of the conversation experience, ChatGPT can be personalised to meet the specific needs of users based on their preferences, interests and behaviours. In addition, the trained ChatGPT has powerful data analysis capabilities, allowing it to obtain inductive or predictive results in a relatively short period based on the information people provide, enhancing the efficiency of data analysis.
Cons — However, there are also potential drawbacks to the use of ChatGPT in sports. One concern is the potential for bias in data analysis. If the data used to train ChatGPT is biased, this could lead to inaccurate or unfair player analysis. For example, before the World Cup in Qatar, engineer Gus gave a data scraping code for ChatGPT to predict the winner of the World Cup in Qatar with the help of the NebulaGraph graph database and graph algorithm, which eventually resulted in a prediction that Brazil won the title. After the tournament, a fan asked ChatGPT to write a report on the final, the answer is still that Brazil had won the Hercules Cup.
Additionally, there is a risk that the increased reliance on data and technology could lead to a decrease in the importance of human intuition and decision-making in sports. In other words, if teams and coaches rely too much on data and technology to make decisions, they may be less inclined to trust their instincts and experience when making decisions in games or other important moments. This is very detrimental to the development of the sport. It may also lead to the sports staff, led by the coach, losing their jobs.
How will ChatGPT impact sports further?
ChatGPT’s impact on sports will likely grow even more significantly in the long run. As the technology improves and more data becomes available, ChatGPT will become even more accurate in analysing player performance and game outcomes. This could have a profound impact on how sports teams and organisations operate, as they will be able to make data-driven decisions based on real-time analysis.
One area where ChatGPT’s impact could be particularly significant is in injury prevention. By analysing player movements and performance data, ChatGPT could help identify potential injury risks before they happen. This would allow coaches and medical staff to take preventive measures to reduce the risk of injury and keep players healthy and on the field.
Moreover, as the use of ChatGPT becomes more widespread, it could also level the playing field in sports. Smaller teams or organisations with limited resources may use ChatGPT to gain a competitive advantage over larger, more well-funded groups. Reduce the constraints on the development of small-scale sports organisations due to resource and information mismatches. This could lead to a more equitable and competitive landscape in sports.
Conclusion
All in all, as the technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see more exciting developments in the field of sports with ChatGPT-led AI language models. However, For ChatGPT to fully fulfil its potential in serving humanity requires ample opportunities for practical application and consistent optimisation to address any potential controversies.
Reference List
Haleem, A., Javaid, M., & Singh, R. P. (2022). An era of ChatGPT as a significant futuristic support tool: A study on features, abilities, and challenges. BenchCouncil transactions on benchmarks, standards and evaluations, 2(4), 100089.
Dahmen, J., Kayaalp, M., Ollivier, M., Pareek, A., Hirschmann, M. T., Karlsson, J., & Winkler, P. W. (2023). Artificial intelligence bot ChatGPT in medical research: the potential game changer as a double-edged sword. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, 1–3
