Jeremy Bloom, a former University of Colorado football player and Olympic skier, is revolutionizing the sports world with groundbreaking artificial intelligence technology. Bloom has launched The Owl AI, a platform designed to bring unprecedented fairness, transparency, and immersion to the global sports ecosystem. The Boulder-based company was introduced at the X Games in Aspen and has already garnered attention from major professional leagues in the United States.
Background on Jeremy Bloom and Owl AI
Bloom, who played football at CU in 2002-03 and was a World Cup moguls skier, teamed up with Google to create the first AI judge. The technology was initially developed in just six weeks with the help of Josh Gwyther, a former Google AI team leader who has now joined Owl AI. “We had other leagues reaching out to us and saying, ‘Hey, we’d love to look at this technology and think about how we could apply it,'” Bloom explained in an interview. This feedback confirmed that the technology had broader applications beyond the X Games.
Key Features and Applications of Owl AI
The Owl AI technology promises to bring objectivity to subjective sports by minimizing human error in judging and refereeing. Bloom cited high-profile missed calls in NFL playoff games and other major sporting events as examples of where AI could make a significant difference. Beyond judging, Owl AI can serve as an “incredible tool” for coaching by analyzing athlete footage and providing critique and tips. The technology can also generate AI commentary in multiple languages, a feature being launched at the Summer X Games in Salt Lake City.
Future Plans and Local Impact
Owl AI has secured $11 million in funding from investors including S32, Menlo Ventures, and Susa Ventures. Bloom is optimistic about the future of AI in sports, predicting its ubiquity across all live sports within five years. The company plans to tap into local talent in Boulder, potentially hiring recent CU graduates and offering internships to CU students. Josh Gwyther expressed enthusiasm about working with CU to bring in new talent and reignite the startup community in Boulder.
As Owl AI continues to develop and announce partnerships with major sports leagues, its potential to transform the sports industry remains significant. With its innovative technology and commitment to local collaboration, Owl AI is poised to make a lasting impact on the world of sports.
