AI Commentary Should not Replace Human Sports Commentators

Whenever you’re watching some sports game on TV, the game usually has people talking over the game, explaining to the audience what’s happening with their own banter and reactions mixed in. These are commentators or play-by-play announcers, people whose job is to add their personality to these events. A good commentator describes the action on the field for every play, typically accompanied by a replay to show a cool pass or goal, interjecting with some commentary (pun not intended) on the players, state of the game, or how the crowd in the stadium is responding to the game.

There is much that is involved; they must uphold a professional demeanor while also infusing charisma and enthusiasm into their commentary, a bland approach is unacceptable. These commentators can share their biases with millions of people; in the Olympics, whoever is commenting will probably focus on their home country. National broadcasters will focus on higher-profile athletes and popular teams for higher viewer counts, or whoever their favorite team or player is. Even local commentators have a hometown bias that you can hear.

When AI is involved, using an automated voice for live play-by-play commentary results in losing the feeling of a real person speaking to you. AI inherently regurgitates already existing words in whatever format it sees fit; you won’t receive anything original from the AI. You’ll only receive face-value commentary of what’s happening on the field, possibly mixed in with quotes people have already said. There’s no bias behind the AI unless prompted; there’s nothing behind the words said, only a task to finish. AI can’t mimic charisma or any voice tone; you would get monotone, regurgitated commentary. Even if an AI is given a name, it lacks a true identity. You can’t talk to an AI about its recent sports commentary; there’s so much going on through it, it will forget it even commented.

AI has no place taking people’s jobs; commentary is no exception. No matter how people argue it, AI can never replace human creativity in any field.