IBM and the USTA Serve Up New and Enhanced Generative AI Features for 2024 US Open Digital Platforms

Rhea-AI Summary

IBM and the USTA have announced new AI-powered features for the 2024 US Open digital platforms, leveraging IBM's watsonx AI and data platform. Key innovations include:

1. AI-generated Match Report summaries for all 254 main draw singles matches, produced within minutes of conclusion.

2. Enhanced AI commentary for match highlight videos, offering more frequent and contextual content.

3. Redesigned IBM SlamTracker with detailed pre-, live, and post-match insights, including a new 3D graphic for live matches.

4. Collaboration between IBM and the USTA Foundation to provide free AI and professional development courses through IBM SkillsBuild.

These features aim to deliver a more informative and engaging experience for millions of tennis fans worldwide, showcasing the continued innovation in the 30-year partnership between IBM and the USTA.

Positive

• Introduction of AI-generated Match Report summaries for all 254 main draw singles matches, expanding editorial capabilities
• Enhanced AI commentary for match highlight videos, improving fan engagement
• Redesigned IBM SlamTracker with more detailed insights and a new 3D graphic for live matches
• Collaboration with USTA Foundation to offer free AI and professional development courses, aligning with IBM's goal to skill 30 million people by 2030

Negative

• None.

Insights

Tech Expert

IBM's integration of watsonx-powered AI features for the US Open showcases the practical application of large language models (LLMs) in sports media. The use of Granite 13B, a purpose-built LLM, for generating Match Report summaries and enhanced AI commentary demonstrates the potential for AI to augment content creation at scale.

The redesigned IBM SlamTracker, offering real-time 3D graphics and detailed match insights, highlights the convergence of AI and data visualization in enhancing fan engagement. This integration of advanced analytics with user-friendly interfaces could set a new standard for sports data presentation.

While these innovations promise to enrich the fan experience, it's important to monitor the accuracy and quality of AI-generated content over time, especially in a fast-paced, live sports environment.

Market Research Analyst

The collaboration between IBM and USTA demonstrates a strategic leveraging of AI technology in the sports entertainment sector. This partnership could potentially increase fan engagement and viewership for the US Open, driving revenue through digital platforms.

The introduction of AI-generated Match Reports for all 254 main draw singles matches represents a significant scaling of content production. This could lead to cost efficiencies in editorial operations while expanding coverage, potentially attracting a broader audience base.

The free AI career readiness training through IBM SkillsBuild aligns with growing market demand for AI skills. This initiative could enhance IBM's brand image and potentially create a pipeline of future talent in the AI sector, addressing the skills gap in the tech industry.

-New Match Report summaries offer fans detailed analysis for all 254 US Open main draw singles matches

-Enhanced version of AI Commentary returns to US Open digital platforms for on-demand highlights, along with fully redesigned IBM SlamTracker experience

-IBM and USTA Foundation announce new collaboration to provide AI professional development resources to USTA Foundation students, teaching professionals and the public

ARMONK, N.Y., Aug. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) and the United States Tennis Association (USTA) today announced several watsonx-powered fan features coming to the US Open digital platforms ahead of this year's tournament. These new and enhanced capabilities – a product of collaboration between IBM and the USTA digital team – aim to deliver a more informative and engaging experience for millions of tennis fans around the world.

All-new this year, IBM will deliver AI-generated Match Report summaries for every men's and women's singles match within minutes of conclusion. The solution leverages technologies from watsonx, IBM's AI and data platform – including Granite 13B, its large language model (LLM) purpose-built for business – and the USTA's trusted data and editorial guidelines to produce long-form, post-match articles featuring analysis of player performance, statistics and highlights. The content is reviewed and updated with context and commentary from USTA editorial staff prior to publication on the US Open app and USOpen.org.

Match Reports will expand editorial capabilities of the USTA, enabling them to provide fans with timely coverage at unprecedented scale – for all 254 main draw singles matches across seven rounds and all seventeen courts.

An enhanced version of IBM's AI commentary is also returning to the US Open digital platforms. First introduced in 2023, AI commentary provides automated English-language audio and subtitles for men's and women's singles match summary highlight videos. This year, IBM will utilize watsonx including the Granite 13B LLM to generate more frequent, expressive and contextual commentary, with highlight packages published just minutes after a match concludes.

Fans will also have access to a fully redesigned IBM SlamTracker experience offering detailed pre-, live and post-match insights. These include likelihood to win predictions, point-by-point analysis, and bulleted match previews and recaps, built on IBM watsonx, for all men's and women's singles matches. This includes for live matches a new, near real-time 3D graphic of current play.

Additionally, IBM and the USTA Foundation, the USTA's philanthropic arm, are announcing a collaboration to offer free career readiness training through IBM SkillsBuild, aligning with the USTA Foundation's mission to help under-resourced youth become more engaged in school and learning and IBM's goal of skilling 30 million people by 2030. The collaboration will provide students from select USTA Foundation National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) chapters, as well as teaching professionals and the public, access to AI and professional development courses, such as customized learning plans, workshops and guidance from IBM volunteers. Participants will also have access to a new guidebook and interactive micro-learning course, available in English and Spanish, providing information on AI concepts and techniques used in tennis, such as electronic line calling and player analytics, as well as an introduction to LLMs, including IBM Granite.

"Fans want more quality content around their favorite sports and athletes, and IBM Match Reports enables us to deliver it right away for the US Open," said Jonathan Adashek, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications for IBM. "IBM's continued partnership with the USTA, built on more than 30 years of innovation, is an example of how businesses in any sector can modernize and scale their workflows with models like Granite and AI technologies like watsonx."

"One of the key goals of the US Open Digital Platforms is to provide fans worldwide with comprehensive coverage of all the action taking place during the three weeks of the tournament," said Brian Ryerson, Sr. Director of Digital Strategy at the USTA. "AI Match Reports enables us to efficiently deliver concise, factual match previews and reports for over 150 matches to fans across our platforms.  The efficiency of providing this content at scale allows our editorial teams to focus on other storylines and interviews ensuring we can provide the most comprehensive coverage possible."

These new features and efforts showcase how IBM and the USTA continue to co-create world-class digital experiences that bring the drama and excitement of the US Open to more than 15 million people around the world each year. The US Open's digital experiences are run on the USTA's flexible, open hybrid cloud platform, which integrates technology from dozens of partners, automates key business processes, and secures the entire world-class digital experience of the US Open.

The 2024 US Open runs from August 19 - September 8. To see IBM technology in action, visit USOpen.org and/or the US Open app available in the Apple and Android app stores on mobile devices.

About IBM 
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

About USTA
The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level -- from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization, it invests 100 percent of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, one of the highest-attended annual sporting events in the world, along with approximately 100 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S., and selects the teams for Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA's philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships in addition to supporting tennis and education programs nationwide to benefit under-resourced youth through the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. For more information about the USTA, go to USTA.com or follow the official accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X) and TikTok.

USTA Foundation Incorporated (USTAF or USTA Foundation), the national charitable arm of the United States Tennis Association Incorporated (USTA), utilizes the powerful combination of tennis and education to enhance the lives of under-resourced youth through its support of the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. For more than 50 years, NJTL has impacted thousands of youth nationwide, and today, the network features over 250 chapters. The USTAF supports these chapters by providing financial grants, scholarship opportunities, curricula, technical assistance, and training. USTAF raises money and public awareness through donations, corporate support, foundations, and fundraisers, including the US Open Opening Night Gala and various Pro-Ams, to name just a few. To date, the USTA Foundation has awarded approximately $64 million in grants and scholarships. For more information on the USTA Foundation, visit www.ustafoundation.com or stay connected through Facebook and Instagram at @USTAFOUNDATION.

Media contact:

Sarah Benchaita
sarah.benchaita@ibm.com

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FAQ

What new AI features is IBM introducing for the 2024 US Open?

IBM is introducing AI-generated Match Report summaries for all 254 main draw singles matches, enhanced AI commentary for highlight videos, a redesigned IBM SlamTracker with more detailed insights, and a new 3D graphic for live matches.

How quickly will IBM's AI-generated Match Reports be available after a match?

IBM's AI-generated Match Report summaries will be available within minutes of a match's conclusion for all men's and women's singles matches at the 2024 US Open.

What is the collaboration between IBM and the USTA Foundation for the 2024 US Open?

IBM and the USTA Foundation are collaborating to offer free AI and professional development courses through IBM SkillsBuild, providing resources to USTA Foundation students, teaching professionals, and the public.

When does the 2024 US Open take place?

The 2024 US Open runs from August 19 to September 8.