ESPN Tests Generative AI Avatar Called ‘FACTS’

ESPN is testing avatar generated by artificial intelligence with Saturday’s college football game SEC Nation. The project, called FACTS, will “…promote education and fun powered by sports analytics” using information from ESPN Analytics, which includes data such as the Football Power Index (FPI), player and team statistics, and match schedules. We haven’t seen the avatar in action, but it sounds like a botted version of a statistics encyclopedia Howie Schwabwho was ESPN’s first statistician and ultimately a mid-21st century game show star, Hit Schwab.

ESPN has already introduced generative AI to its website, featuring game summaries written by AI. FACTS is still in development and it is unknown when it may first appear online.

In a statement released at the ESPN Edge Innovation Conference, the network said FACTS is “absolutely not” intended to replace journalists or other talent. “FACTS is designed to test innovations available in the market and create opportunities to share ESPN Analytics data with fans in an engaging and enjoyable segment,” the company writes.