Impossible to replace McEnroe
This season, at Wimbledon, Bill Jinks promises that the linesmen will continue to act in the gamesbut is unable to ensure whether this will continue to be the case in the future.
“The technology for line arbitration evolves. Since 2007 we have used the Hawkeye system (the video that players can claim on a limited number of occasions if there are questionable balls) and it works very well. Who knows what will happen in the future?” warns Jinks, who nevertheless excludes the possibility of a single artificial intelligence adjudicating in an incontestable way.
For Chris Clements, digital manager within the All England Club, technological progress has changed the way in which society consumes sport, at a time when there is a buzz around AI since the release of tools such as ChatGPT or Midjourney.
“Wimbledon, when we were kids, was the time when the whole family would gather in front of the TV in the living room,” he recalls. “Now, it’s less frequent. You have to find another way to attract those who will embody the next generation of Wimbledon fans.”
Now it’s all about “collecting massive amounts of data and transforming it into information that we can share with fans around the world through digital platforms,” says Kevin Farrar, head of sports sponsorships for IBM in the UK and Ireland.
The objective, he adds, is to later use this AI (which produces sports commentary) for the entirety of a match, for categories that normally do not benefit, such as veterans, juniors or wheelchair tennis. Specifying, yes, that it is not a matter of completely leaving human intervention aside.
“Replacing John McEnroe’s comments… it’s impossible! The human must always be present, it is simply about completing it. The challenge is to find the right balance between tradition and innovation,” she concludes.