Al Michaels returns to the Olympics — as the AI voice of Peacock

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As a long-time sports enthusiast and broadcaster with decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the latest announcement from NBC Sports has left me absolutely speechless – in a good way! Al Michaels, one of the most iconic voices in sports broadcasting history, is coming back to our screens, but this time through the wonders of artificial intelligence.

As legendary sportscaster Al Michaels would say, you can’t make this up. Or maybe you can.

I’m thrilled to share that starting Wednesday, NBC Sports has decided to bring Michaels’ iconic voice back to life for a special Summer Olympics feature. With the help of advanced artificial intelligence technology, his voice will be recreated and used in personalized daily recaps of Olympic events, exclusively available to NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service subscribers.

On Peacock, new users can register and select their preferred events. This data will then generate a personalized daily Olympic summary called “Peacock’s Olympic Daily Recap,” featuring handpicked video clips narrated by an AI voice mimicking Michaels’. Many users will also enjoy the added touch of having their names mentioned in the recap.

Each day, NBC Sports-produced clips totaling hundreds will be compiled for recaps. These recaps last approximately 10 minutes and feature highlights from the previous day as well as previews of upcoming prime-time events on NBC. A single Peacock subscription supports access for up to six users.

An AI version of 79-year-old Michaels was developed, drawing from his past performances on NBC Sports shows. Michaels spent an impressive 16 seasons as the commentator for “Sunday Night Football” on NBC. Additionally, he anchored NBC’s daytime Olympic coverage in both 2010 and 2012.

I currently serve as the lead play-by-play commentator on Amazon’s “Thursday Night Football,” but let me take you back to an unforgettable moment in sports history. I was the one who asked the question that resonated with millions during the U.S. hockey team’s stunning victory over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid, New York. That pivotal moment, etched in Olympic lore, was marked by my exclamation, “Do you believe in miracles?”

The Brentwood resident said he believes in AI.

“Upon being presented with this idea, I initially harbored doubts but couldn’t help feeling intrigued. Once I witnessed a demonstration outlining their plans, my interest was piqued and I became fully on board.”

During the Olympics, which take place from July 27 to August 11, NBC Sports plans to generate and send out approximately 7 million customized daily recaps.

At the Paris Olympics, NBCUniversal is set to air a total of 5,000 hours in real-time coverage. Simultaneously, around 40 distinct events will unfold daily across their broadcast and cable networks. Each event will be made available for live streaming on Peacock.

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2024-07-18 22:01