CNN
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NBC is bringing a model of famed sportscaster Al Michaels again to the Olympics this summer with an unlikely twist: His voice will likely be powered by synthetic intelligence.
NBC introduced on Wednesday it can use AI software program to recreate Michaels’ voice to ship every day recaps of the Summer season Video games for subscribers of its Peacock streaming platform, a milestone for the usage of AI by a significant media firm.
Using an AI voice for the Olympics comes because the expertise has grown by leaps and bounds, significantly in its capacity to create photographs, sound and textual content. That, in flip, has raised questions in artistic industries, corresponding to journalism, about how synthetic intelligence can – and even ought to – be used.
A brand new instrument, known as “Your Every day Olympic Recap on Peacock,” will allow 10-minute highlights packages, which might embrace occasions updates, athlete again tales and different associated content material customized by subscriber preferences.
The corporate stated the highlights may very well be packaged in about 7 million alternative ways, pulled from 5,000 hours of stay protection in Paris, successfully making AI (the bogus intelligence, not the person) a considerably extra environment friendly solution to ship customized recaps.
“After I was approached about this, I used to be skeptical however clearly curious,” Michaels stated in a press launch. “Then I noticed an illustration detailing what that they had in thoughts. I stated, ‘I’m in.’”
A NBC spokesperson advised CNN Michaels is being compensated for his involvement.
Michaels, a long-time broadcaster, is at the moment the play-by-play sportscaster for Thursday Night time Soccer on Amazon Prime. He’s additionally recognized for his work on earlier Olympics Video games broadcasts for each NBC and ABC and for calling the Miracle on Ice Sport on the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.
NBC stated the AI system was skilled utilizing prior NBC broadcast audio from Michaels.
The corporate stated a staff of NBC Sports activities editors will evaluation all the content material, together with audio and clips, to ensure all the things is factually correct and names are pronounced accurately.
The highlights instrument will likely be accessible on Peacock by way of net browsers and iOS and iPadOS apps beginning July 27.