New AI-assisted judging and timing systems are being deployed across multiple Olympic sports, promising more consistent scoring in subjectively judged events while raising fresh questions about transparency and athlete trust.
Sports with subjective scoring components, including gymnastics and diving, have begun incorporating AI-assisted motion tracking systems designed to measure technical elements like rotation speed and body angle with a precision human judges can’t match by eye alone, aiming to reduce scoring inconsistency and the perception of bias that has periodically dogged these sports.
These systems are generally deployed as a support tool for human judges rather than a full replacement, providing supplementary technical data that judges can use to inform their scores rather than an automated final score the judges simply confirm.
Athletes want to see how the technology actually works
Some athletes and coaches have raised questions about transparency in how these AI systems calculate their technical assessments, requesting clearer public explanation of the underlying methodology, particularly in the wake of any scoring controversy where the technology’s assessment differed noticeably from a human judge’s initial read.
“We want the technology to make scoring fairer. We also want to actually understand how it reached its number, not just be told to trust it.”
With several federations planning to expand these systems to additional judged sports in coming cycles, officials say building athlete and public trust in the technology’s transparency will be as important to its long-term success as the technical accuracy the systems are actually designed to improve.
