- AI could be used to evaluate changes to playoff system
- Any application of technology would be done in conjunction with humans
Nascar is weighing up the effectiveness of artificial intelligence (AI) in improving its on-track product.
The stock car racing series has already worked with WSC Sports on AI-generated highlights and Satisfi Labs for a chatbot function on its website.
Now, Nascar chief operating officer Steve O’Donnell has revealed this could be extended to on-track improvements – specifically for the playoffs.
“When we created even the stages or playoff format [years ago], you did that with the best data you had and best minds you had, but now being able to plug in and work with AI in terms of, ‘OK, if you tweak the playoffs this way, what should we be watching out for?’ or ‘How could that affect the sport?’ — there’s so much data and technology out there that you can throw into a model,” O’Donnell told Sports Business Journal (SBJ).
“I think it’s going to be very helpful in looking at some predictive analysis of where the sport can go in the future and then there’s the whole business side of things too.”
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The playoff system has divided opinion among fans since being introduced, with the current format first being used in 2017.
But issues around the system were thrust into the spotlight last season after Joey Logano claimed the championship with the lowest average finishing position in Cup Series history.
While Nascar could look to AI in order to assess the impact of any potential changes, SBJ reports this would come as part of a wider effort to involve humans in the process of deciding on how those changes should look.
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