NBC is set to bring back sportscaster Al Michaels to the Olympics this summer in a groundbreaking way – his voice will be powered by artificial intelligence.
In a recent announcement, NBC revealed their plans to use AI software to recreate Michaels’ voice for daily recaps of the Summer Games on the Peacock streaming platform. This marks a significant milestone for the integration of AI technology in media companies.
The decision to use AI for the Olympics comes at a time when the technology has made significant advancements, particularly in the creation of images, sound, and text. This has sparked discussions in industries like journalism about the ethical and practical implications of utilizing artificial intelligence.
The new tool, “Your Daily Olympic Recap on Peacock,” will provide 10-minute highlights packages tailored to subscriber preferences. These packages will include event updates, athlete profiles, and other related content, all personalized for the viewer.
According to NBC, the highlights can be packaged in approximately 7 million different variations, drawing from 5,000 hours of live coverage in Paris. This makes AI an incredibly efficient way to deliver personalized recaps to viewers.
Michaels expressed his initial skepticism but ultimately agreed to participate after seeing a demonstration of the AI technology. He stated, “When I was approached about this, I was skeptical but obviously curious. Then I saw a demonstration detailing what they had in mind. I said, ‘I’m in.'”
A spokesperson for NBC confirmed that Michaels is being compensated for his involvement in the project.
Michaels, a veteran broadcaster known for his work on Thursday Night Football and previous Olympic Games broadcasts, has lent his voice to the AI system through prior NBC broadcast audio recordings.
To ensure accuracy and proper pronunciation, a team of NBC Sports editors will review all content generated by the AI system, including audio clips.
The AI-powered highlights tool will be accessible on Peacock through web browsers, as well as iOS and iPadOS apps, starting July 27.
