In today's email:

🏀 SportsVisio raises $3.2M to scale AI-powered sports analytics across basketball and volleyball

💰 OpenAI commits $30B annually to Oracle for massive data center expansion

🤖 RunSignup launches free AI chatbot for race directors to automate customer service

📊 Over half of sports fans now use AI tools as their main source of sports information

⚽ FC Barcelona uses AI to understand global fanbase and optimize player performance

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AI in Sports and Fitness

SportsVisio secures $3.2 million in additional funding to scale its AI-powered sports analytics platform across basketball and volleyball markets. The round brings total capital to $9M with backing from Sony Innovation Fund, Mighty Capital, and Alumni Ventures. The platform, trusted by over 150 leagues and 16,000 users in 16 countries, recently launched Coach Mode and a fully featured volleyball offering.

RunSignup launches free AI chatbot designed to automate customer service responses for race directors and event organizers. The AI chatbot provides automated answers based on event websites and participant data like race results. The company also introduced AI for Vibe Coding, enabling race directors to build custom solutions without developers.

Human Powered Health unveils HumanGO 2.0 with enhanced AI-powered training capabilities and weather integration for endurance athletes. The upgraded platform features faster navigation, smarter adaptive training plans, and enhanced calendar views with weather data integration. The system provides precision training by integrating athlete data from performance labs with continuous adaptation to individual progress.

Capgemini Research Institute study reveals over half of sports fans now rely on AI tools as their primary source of sports information and content discovery. The research shows 67% of fans want a single platform aggregating all sports data from websites, search engines, and social media. AI has officially overtaken traditional search engines for sports content discovery among global audiences.

FC Barcelona partners with Qloo to implement AI across fan engagement and player performance optimization operations. The club uses AI to analyze its global fanbase and personalize content across different regions, noting they have five times more fans in Indonesia than Spain. The system also supports scouting, player health monitoring, and opponent-specific training preparation.

Life Time rolls out Microsoft-powered AI assistant L.AI.C to all users following successful beta launch in May. The AI companion delivers personalized support across fitness, nutrition, and recovery through the LT Digital app. Users can request trainer-led workouts, supplement guidance, and class recommendations tailored to individual needs and activity levels.

FloSports develops proprietary AI camera technology to automate live wrestling and grappling sports production. The new VPZ (virtual pan and zoom) technology soft-launched at the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals, tracking action and integrating real-time stats. The system uses readily available consumer cameras costing approximately $100 each.

Toronto Metropolitan University researchers demonstrate how AI can reduce bias in professional sports scouting while preserving human expertise. The study shows AI-anonymized game footage increases focus on tactical performance and reduces bias linked to physical attributes. The research supports more objective, performance-focused player evaluations in professional sports.

🧰 Tools and Tips

• NotebookLM's Video Overviews distill complex information into clear, digestible content via narrated slides.

• Convert text into high-quality, human-like voices with MURF.ai’s AI text to speech platform.

• Create engaging video content from your podcast episodes in just one click with PodClips.

• agent.ai is a service where professionals build, find, and use AI agents. Great place to get AI app inspiration too!

Overview: I’ve covered my love of NotebookLM in the past as it is a great way to take content and create valuable materials, and even turn it into an audio podcast you can listen to on the go.

I created one as an example previously called Del Mar 5K: A Comprehensive Organizer’s Guide. I did this by using ChatGPT to do deep research on how to put on a 5K in Del Mar, CA. I then uploaded the results to NotebookLM which then created a briefing document, timeline, FAQ and podcast for me.

Google just rolled out another new feature called Visual Overview that will take the content you have uploaded to NotebookLM and create a basic presentation with audio. I asked it to create a Visual Overview outlining the permit process for my Del Mar 5K and it delivered a six minute presentation with audio. You can see all the material NotebookLM created here under Studio in the right side of the page.

Other race event deliverables that can be enhanced using NotebookLM include volunteers guides, pre-race athlete guides and sponsorship presentations. Give it a try!

Power Your Events with RunSignup AI

AI is here, and the time to learn is now. RunSignup's ongoing AI Webinar Series includes everything from beginner sessions to advanced projects to help race directors and timers understand and apply AI tools for their events. 

Topics are still being added, but current webinars include:

- The free new RunSignup AI Chatbot for races

- Using AI to build content and building content AI understands

- Creating custom applications with vibe coding (developer not required)

Learn how AI is transforming the way events are created, managed, and optimized and get inspired to build better events. 

Webinars are free to join - sign up today!

Beyond Sports: AI News Bytes

OpenAI launches Study Mode in ChatGPT designed to develop critical thinking skills rather than provide direct answers to students. The feature asks users questions to test understanding and refuses direct answers unless students engage with material.

Microsoft reports quarterly profits of $27.2 billion driven by cloud computing and AI units, with Azure bringing in over $75 billion for the fiscal year. CEO Satya Nadella says cloud and AI is the driving force of business transformation across every industry and sector.

Amazon invests in Fable Studio, creator of Showrunner platform that generates AI TV shows based on user prompts. The "Netflix of AI" platform creates full episodes up to 22 minutes with consistent characters and storylines.

OpenAI has committed to paying Oracle $30 billion annually for data center services as part of the Stargate project. This massive investment provides 4.5 gigawatts of capacity, equivalent to powering about four million homes.

Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas announced plans to remain independent despite reaching a reported $14 billion valuation. The AI search company aims to provide an alternative to Google's search monopoly and compete with Big Tech rather than be acquired.

Google is testing Opal, a vibe-coding app that creates mini web apps using text prompts. The tool targets non-technical users and joins competitors like Canva and Figma in the no-code space.

Gannett signed a strategic AI content licensing agreement with Perplexity, integrating over 200 local publications into the AI search platform. The partnership includes revenue sharing and access to Perplexity's Sonar API for all employees.

YouTube will use AI to verify user age by analyzing browsing activity including video searches, categories watched, and account longevity. Users incorrectly identified as under 18 can verify their age using credit cards or government ID.

AI Art Challenge

Send us your AI sports image to [email protected] for next issue using the prompt: Running shoes with wings

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