Jorge Cuesta / William Allen
A soccer team appointed an AI coach for one game - with startling results
EYE FOR AI
ONE IN THE
They say that no profession is safe from being usurped by artificial intelligence (AI). But there’s at least one that seems secure for now.
They say that no profession is safe from being usurped by artificial intelligence (AI). But there’s at least one that seems secure for now.
They say that no profession is safe from being usurped by artificial intelligence (AI). But there’s at least one that seems secure for now.
In January this year, the Norwegian soccer club Hamarkameratene (HamKam) gave an AI coach a trial run at the helm of its reserve team.
In January this year, the Norwegian soccer club Hamarkameratene (HamKam) gave an AI coach a trial run at the helm of its reserve team.
In January this year, the Norwegian soccer club Hamarkameratene (HamKam) gave an AI coach a trial run at the helm of its reserve team.
Training, team selection, playing system… Everything was placed in the hands of an AI platform that made its calls based on billions of parameters.
Training, team selection, playing system… Everything was placed in the hands of an AI platform that made its calls based on billions of parameters.
Training, team selection, playing system… Everything was placed in the hands of an AI platform that made its calls based on billions of parameters.
In a game against Nes SK, the team lined up in a 4-5-1 formation - and, once play was underway, took the lead from the penalty spot.
What’s more, the successful spot-kick was aimed to the goalkeeper’s left at the behest of the AI coach. The experiment was going swimmingly.
But it all went wrong when the coach began to issue bizarre orders: at one point, for example, it told the whole 11 to drop back into the six-yard box.
But it all went wrong when the coach began to issue bizarre orders: at one point, for example, it told the whole 11 to drop back into the six-yard box.
But it all went wrong when the coach began to issue bizarre orders: at one point, for example, it told the whole 11 to drop back into the six-yard box.
Nes SK soon began to pile up the goals - and AI’s 'solutions' included having the goalkeeper take throw-ins and switching to nine up front.
Nes SK soon began to pile up the goals - and AI’s 'solutions' included having the goalkeeper take throw-ins and switching to nine up front.
Nes SK soon began to pile up the goals - and AI’s 'solutions' included having the goalkeeper take throw-ins and switching to nine up front.
HamKam were thrashed 6-1 - but the team’s regular, human coach insisted he had come away with some interesting tactical ideas.
The experiment was part of a deal between HamKam and Eidsiva, a company chasing innovation in the energy and technology sectors.
As Eidsiva later acknowledged, the AI test served to hammer home that the human touch will always be the most important part of sport.
YOU'LL FIND MORE GREAT VISUAL STORIES AT AS USA