NBA set to introduce AI for objective calls, confirms commissioner Adam Silver

[p]Silver ‌compared the system to Hawk-Eye technology ‌used in tennis, where electronic line-calling quickly determines ‌whether a ball has landed in or ‌out.[/p][p]"[b]We're going to move to a system like that where that whole category of calls will ‌be automatic,[/b]" Silver said on ⁠ESPN's the Pat ‌McAfee Show on Wednesday.[/p][p]"[b]It's going to be Laker ​ball, Knick ball, whatever it is. Those calls will be done by an ​AI, automated system with cameras lined around the court.[/b]"[/p][p]The technology would make such decisions ⁠instantaneous and ​allow referees to focus on calls for contact and fouls.[/p][p]"[b]It will take all those so-called objective calls out of the hands of the ‌referees[/b]," he said. "[b]You won't have to deal with challenges on those calls.[/b]"[/p][embed guid="6ba25cad-8b60-4b78-90f2-e1f01155f477" url="https://x.com/PatMcAfeeShow/status/2059774517988180333?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Silver did not provide an exact timeline for the introduction of the system but said it would be "fairly quickly".[/p][p]The NBA has increasingly leaned on replay review and centralized decision-making to improve officiating accuracy, though reviews can slow the ‌pace of games.[/p][p]Silver said referees would remain ​essential for interpreting physical contact, where judgment ‌is required to determine whether a player has been impeded.[/p][p]"[b]There's often contact on every play, but that doesn't mean there's a foul on every play,[/b]" Silver ⁠said. "[b]That's something that ⁠can't just be ‌done on camera.[/b]"[/p]