No more line judges in tennis? No umpires or referees? Who will the fans blame when their team or favorite doesn't win?
As it often is, technology in this case is being used to eliminate a human workforce, and therefore to eliminate the workforce's salaries, pensions, unions and, particularly, their imperfections. One of the more interesting aspects of sports is when and how fans disagree with the officials. And it seriously can become murderously violent- hence the ban on fans entering the playing area in most stadiums and arenas.
Fans of 1980s tennis got very accustomed to seeing John McEnroe violently dispute the calls of line judges ("You cannot be serious!") in a way that belied the sports' reputation as a genteel activity. Would he object to an AI line judge making the same mistake, if it did? Probably. But the appeal of sports is as much the human interest element behind players, coaches and even officials, and putting AI in takes a lot of that away.
No more line judges in tennis? No umpires or referees? Who will the fans blame when their team or favorite doesn't win?
As it often is, technology in this case is being used to eliminate a human workforce, and therefore to eliminate the workforce's salaries, pensions, unions and, particularly, their imperfections. One of the more interesting aspects of sports is when and how fans disagree with the officials. And it seriously can become murderously violent- hence the ban on fans entering the playing area in most stadiums and arenas.
Fans of 1980s tennis got very accustomed to seeing John McEnroe violently dispute the calls of line judges ("You cannot be serious!") in a way that belied the sports' reputation as a genteel activity. Would he object to an AI line judge making the same mistake, if it did? Probably. But the appeal of sports is as much the human interest element behind players, coaches and even officials, and putting AI in takes a lot of that away.
Greed. But it would be funny to see John John yelling at a computer.