NBA to introduce AI-powered automated systems to increase game efficiency<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThe National Basketball Association has decided to go completely digital with artificial intelligence (AI) for efficient game management.<\/p>\n
Adam Silver, commissioner of the NBA\u2014the top professional basketball league in North America\u2014said the league will use AI to automate a range of calls such as out-of-bounds decisions to speed up games and reduce disputes over possession.<\/p>\n
Silver compared the system to the Hawk-Eye technique used in tennis, where electronic line-calling instantly determines whether the ball has fallen in or out.<\/p>\n
“We’re going to move toward a system where the entire category of calls will be automated,” Silver said on ESPN’s Pat McAfee show on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
“It’s going to be laker balls, knocked balls, whatever. Those calls will be made by AI, automated systems with cameras all around the court.”<\/p>\n
The technology will make such decisions instantly and allow referees to focus on calls for contact and fouls.<\/p>\n
“It would take all those so-called objective calls out of the hands of the referees,” he said. “You won’t have to deal with challenges on those calls.”<\/p>\n
The NBA has increasingly relied on rapid replay reviews and centralized decision making to improve officiating accuracy, although the reviews can slow down the pace of games.<\/p>\n
Silver said referees will remain required to interpret physical contact where a decision is required to determine whether a player has been impeded.<\/p>\n
“Contact happens in almost every game, but that doesn’t mean fouls happen in every game,” Silver said. “It’s something that just can’t be done on camera.”<\/p>\n
Notably, Silver did not provide any exact timeline for the introduction of the system, but said it would be “fairly soon”.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n