The eSports world recently witnessed an interesting yet controversial moment when AI commentator bots were introduced during the League of Legends Worlds 2023 T1 vs. LNG match.
However, this technological advancement has received mixed reactions, especially from the esports community and professional casters. The esports and gaming community has always been vocal and opinionated, especially when it comes to technological advancements such as cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and AI.
With this latest development, fans expressed disappointment Regarding the lack of emotion and energy in AI casters, we highlighted an important aspect that sets human commentators apart: their ability to convey passion and excitement.
Famous League of Legends caster Isaac ‘Azael’ Cummings-Bentley said: clear This sentiment has been expressed on social media, lamenting the focus of AI development on replacing human-centered joy. Mitch ‘Ubershouts’ Leslie, another seasoned esports voice, humorously commented on the alarming state of the industry given these advances.
Oh, anchors, you thought a 60% salary adjustment was little to worry about? 😂 https://t.co/3kjzFilrF9
— Mitch Leslie (@UberShouts) November 8, 2023
AI commentary in esports: imitation or innovation?
Sean ‘Spaceman’ Rogers, an anchor behind titles such as Call of Duty and Rocket League, labeled AI as imitation or, at worst, theft. His blunt advice to “throw it in the trash” reflects widespread concerns about AI in esports commentary as imitations and steps that lack humanity.
Despite the criticism, commentators reportedly have no immediate fears of losing their jobs to AI. Currently, bots cannot fully reproduce the nuanced and dynamic nature of human commentary.
The growing presence of AI in sports broadcasting
The use of AI in sports commentary is not limited to esports. Major sporting events such as the Masters Golf Tournament and Wimbledon Tennis Championships are experimenting with AI to narrate highlights.
We’ve given you a sneak peek at the new AI commentary in the Masters app going live this week.
@IBMWatson trained a language model to learn golf and provide real-time insights like an announcer. Here’s an example of what it might sound like. pic.twitter.com/Epij5Rcvse
— Stephen Hennessey (@S_HennesseyGD) April 5, 2023
Eurovision Sport used AI voice A wrap-up is scheduled for the European Track and Field Team Championships, with plans for the US Open to follow.
IBM’s collaboration with these events demonstrates the potential of AI to provide insight and explanation. The technology giant’s Watson AI platform; Adopted at Wimbledontrained in a tennis-specific language, provides a unique, albeit AI-driven, perspective on the sport.
Foray into AI predictive analytics
In a related development, Riot Games recently partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to create a machine learning model named “Win Probability.” This AI evaluates factors such as tower kills and total team XP to predict the outcome of a League of Legends match. This shows the expanding role of AI in esports beyond commentary.
Prospects for AI in esports and broadcasting
The mixed reactions to AI casters at League of Legends World 2023 highlight an important debate in the sports and esports industries. While many believe that AI offers efficiency and new insights, the lack of emotional depth and human connection in AI-generated content remains a significant problem.
As AI continues to evolve and is integrated into fields that have traditionally been dominated by human skills, the balance between technological change and the preservation of the uniquely human elements that define particular occupations and experiences will become increasingly important. This may spark further debate.
The eSports community’s response to AI commentator bots is a reminder of the challenges and opportunities that AI brings to sports and gaming. While AI may bring new dimensions to the field, it seems clear that for now the human touch remains irreplaceable in delivering the excitement and passion that fans cherish. .
