{"668572":{"#nid":"668572","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Tech Student Brings Artificial Intelligence to Basketball Officiating","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EEvery sports fan can recall a moment that had them screaming from their seat or their couch as their favorite team landed on the wrong end of an official\u2019s crucial call. Now, artificial intelligence could offer assistance.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAyush Pai, an avid NBA viewer, set out to create a solution as he watched fouls go uncalled and outcomes be decided by officials rather than the players.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EWith a self-taught knowledge of computer vision AI, he created the initial model for the official\u00ad\u00ad \u2013\u2013 dubbed version 1.0 \u2013\u2013 in the summer of 2022 after graduating high school. With soccer\u0027s video assistant referee (VAR) system and the Hawk-Eye review system in tennis as a guide, Pai felt that basketball was missing an AI component to supplement referees on the court. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0022The officials are running up and down the court constantly. Basketball in general, especially the NBA, is one of the most fast-paced sports, and the entire court is difficult for officials to see at all times. Why not implement a system that can enhance their ability to see the floor using multiple cameras with real-time processing and detection of the basketball and the players?\u0022 he said. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EVersion 1.0 of Pai\u0027s system was trained to detect the color of the basketball and used a pedometer to track steps, but lighting issues and the use of a cumbersome step counter proved limiting. In June, the Denver Nuggets capped a 4-1 series victory over the Miami Heat to earn their first NBA championship, but officiating mistakes in the Heat\u0027s lone win propelled Pai to get back to work on his concept. By the end of the month, version 2.0 of the AI official was complete. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ETo improve accuracy, he used over 3,000 photos of basketballs to better train the model to track the ball\u0027s movement, and he also used pose estimation for tracking the position of a player\u0027s ankles and wrists to detect double dribbling and traveling violations. He is now working on version 3.0, which will include the capacity for multiple players, cameras, and the ability to detect shooting fouls and reach-ins. Pai is also developing a mobile app that he hopes will bring accurate officiating to youth leagues and pickup games worldwide. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe AI craze shows no signs of slowing down, and Pai sees his creation as a way to introduce the concept to new audiences. \u0022Everyone should see the potential of AI, and it\u0027s important that everyone has a basic understanding of its implications and how it can be used in different fields. You can use AI for ChatGPT, in Tesla\u0027s autonomous systems, and even in sports,\u0022 he said. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAn ongoing debate amid the rise of AI is its potential to displace people. Pai sees the benefit of his system as one of coexistence rather than a replacement for the human element of officiating. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0022You don\u0027t want to make AI feel like a threat to the people in any industry. It\u0027s a much better approach to consider this a partnership between AI and officials. In basketball, there are so many physical aspects of the job that AI can\u0027t do,\u0022 he said. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe Florida native will trade his University of Florida Gator blue and orange for Yellow Jacket white and gold this fall as a transfer student, and the incoming second-year student is eager to get started.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0022One of the main reasons I transferred is because of the opportunities the Institute offers within AI and computer science,\u201d he said. \u201cThe chance to participate in the\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/threads-better-way-learn-computing\u0022\u003E College of Computing\u0027s Threads program\u003C\/a\u003E will help me with my projects, and I\u2019m looking forward to exploring the entrepreneurial side of Tech with great programs that foster innovation.\u0022\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EPai\u2019s interest in the capabilities of AI isn\u2019t limited to basketball. He has also created systems that attempt to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=_n11FjgelF8\u0022\u003Ediscourage texting and driving\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YPSazrEqlxo\u0022\u003Ekeep students on task while studying\u003C\/a\u003E. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EGeorgia Tech continues to cement itself as a leader in the emerging space, highlighted by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/news\/2023\/06\/06\/ai-hub-georgia-tech-unite-campus-artificial-intelligence-rd-and-commercialization\u0022\u003Erecent launch of the AI Hub on campus\u003C\/a\u003E, which will drive education and research while developing real-world, responsible applications for AI.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Block or charge? An AI-powered basketball official could help make the call."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EBlock or charge? An AI-powered basketball official could help make the call.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Block or charge? An AI-powered basketball official could help make the call."}],"uid":"36418","created_gmt":"2023-07-25 13:33:41","changed_gmt":"2023-07-25 19:47:57","author":"sgagliano3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-07-25T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2023-07-25T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"671213":{"id":"671213","type":"video","title":"Ayush Pai - Building an Advanced AI Basketball Referee","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EA Tech student is bringing artificial intelligence to basketball officiating.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1690303580","gmt_created":"2023-07-25 16:46:20","changed":"1690303580","gmt_changed":"2023-07-25 16:46:20","video":{"youtube_id":"VZgXUBi_wkM","video_url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=VZgXUBi_wkM"}},"671212":{"id":"671212","type":"image","title":"Ayush Pai\u0027s AI basketball official identdying a violation. ","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAyush Pai\u0027s AI basketball official detects a violation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1690303361","gmt_created":"2023-07-25 16:42:41","changed":"1690385669","gmt_changed":"2023-07-26 15:34:29","alt":"Ayush Pai\u0027s AI basketball official identdying a violation. ","file":{"fid":"254229","name":"Screenshot 2023-07-25 at 8.49.20 AM.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/07\/25\/Screenshot%202023-07-25%20at%208.49.20%20AM.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/07\/25\/Screenshot%202023-07-25%20at%208.49.20%20AM.png","mime":"image\/png","size":2685715,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2023\/07\/25\/Screenshot%202023-07-25%20at%208.49.20%20AM.png?itok=s33lo8fc"}},"671217":{"id":"671217","type":"image","title":"Ayush Pai\u0027s AI basketball official detects a traveling violation. ","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAyush Pai\u0027s AI basketball official detects a traveling violation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1690314344","gmt_created":"2023-07-25 19:45:44","changed":"1690314344","gmt_changed":"2023-07-25 19:45:44","alt":"Ayush Pai\u0027s AI basketball official detects a traveling violation. ","file":{"fid":"254235","name":"Screenshot 2023-07-19 at 12.50.30 PM.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/07\/25\/Screenshot%202023-07-19%20at%2012.50.30%20PM.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/07\/25\/Screenshot%202023-07-19%20at%2012.50.30%20PM.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1593630,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2023\/07\/25\/Screenshot%202023-07-19%20at%2012.50.30%20PM.png?itok=Tz3DpBvW"}}},"media_ids":["671213","671212","671217"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187812","name":"artificial intelligence (AI)"},{"id":"2556","name":"artificial intelligence"},{"id":"2142","name":"basketball"},{"id":"12526","name":"NBA"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"},{"id":"39541","name":"Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"},{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESteven Gagliano - Communications Officer\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["Steven.gagliano@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}