In 2016, Adam Silver was speaking on stage with James Naismith’s hologram. The “commissioner” explained that virtual reality would soon allow all fans to clap their favorite player, but also to return at their home “While talking in the car with their favorite basketball player” in the passenger seat…
A dream that is coming true since the league has just announced the development of a new virtual experience for its fans thanks to its partnership with the Canadian company ARHT.
“Immersiveness and interactivity will be the two pillars of the future experience for sports fans” explains Jock Evans, vice president of the NBA’s development and research unit. “That’s why we are proud to be the first sports league to offer our fans the possibility of watching the matches, from home, with their favorite stars, active or retired, in the form of a hologram! »
A dozen stars and personalities from yesterday and today available
Technically, ARHT engineers explain that it will be enough for fans to buy a projection box, for a few hundred dollars. Once placed at their home, it will project the chosen hologram.
For the moment, the company announces a dozen possibilities (LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, James Naismith, Adam Silver, David Stern, Magic Johnson, Kevin Garnett, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain…) but promises a range of virtually unlimited choice in the future.
It must be said that the NBA has partnered with Open3AI, a company specializing in artificial intelligence, to “bring life” to these holograms. Trained from the interviews and statements of the different players, the holograms can thus speak with the voice of their models, even using their favorite expressions!
Kevin Garnett’s hologram censored
Better still, they would be able to react live to what is happening during a match, while interacting with what the fans present next to them express. For Jock Evans, who demonstrates in video, “It’s a real dialogue that takes place, like with any friend or member of your family who comes to watch the game at home. The only difference is that you have to avoid making him drink beer” he laughs.
For small budgets, the NBA announces a partnership with Amazon and its Alexa connected speakers. Thanks to them, it will be possible to chat in real time with the stars, again thanks to artificial intelligence.
The league still wants to reassure the public by explaining that it has set limits to its project. Thus, the Kevin Garnett hologram will be censored, with a PG13 version, if children are present in the room. The hologram of Michael Jordan is however not available, this one having tended to get angry, taking the remarks in a “too personal” way. As for Magic Johnson’s hologram, it can also read tweets from its real-life version, to help those who have trouble falling asleep.
