(SeaPRwire) –
By: Lucas Caldwell
AI isn’t just changing how we watch sports—it’s rewriting who gets to play at the top. Shaun White, the Olympic snowboarder who grew up in San Diego without mountain access or a full-time coach, says AI is leveling the field for athletes like his younger self. No more relying on parents to film runs or guessing if a trick will break your leg.
White told Andrew Nusca at Brainstorm Tech in Aspen this week that he didn’t have the same advantages as rivals with full-time coaches. Lift tickets, lodging, and food for his family of five were too expensive. Now, AI tools give athletes access to data they never had before—even without a big budget.
AI is already in sports: MLB’s ABS system lets players challenge calls, tennis uses automated line calls, and soccer has SAOT for offsides. The IOC plans to integrate AI into judging for 2026 Milano Cortina. Google Cloud’s Granville Valentine says Gemini can model movements down to the hundredth of a millimeter, tracking skeletal structure and center of gravity for real-time feedback.
Older athletes used friends or parents to film runs. Now, AI gives nearly real-time metrics to improve performance. White says this could prevent injuries too—back in his day, kids played rock-paper-scissors to see who tried a risky trick first, with no data on how it might strain their bodies.
White warns AI shouldn’t replace the human side of sports. Risk, spontaneity, and skill still make sports unique. He doesn’t want analysis paralysis—athletes need to get out there and play, not just crunch numbers. The love of the game matters most.
AI will make the next generation of athletes smarter, not just braver.
Author bio: Lucas Caldwell, a tech opinion leader with millions of followers on X/Twitter, covers AI’s impact on sports and everyday life with sharp, relatable insights.
