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As millions tune in to watch the drama unfold in the World Series, a powerful new player is working behind the scenes to make the broadcast more engaging and reliable than ever: Google’s AI. Both FOX Sports and Major League Baseball itself are leveraging Google Cloud’s AI tools to deliver real-time stats, deeper insights, and a smoother viewing experience for fans.
FOX Sports AI research assistant: Foresight
For broadcasters like Joe Davis and John Smoltz, keeping the commentary fresh and insightful during a long game requires hours of prep work. Now, they have a new ace up their sleeve: FOX Foresight. Built in collaboration with Google Cloud using Vertex AI and trained on mountains of historical MLB data, Foresight acts as an AI research assistant for the production team.
This allows them to ask incredibly specific, complex questions and get answers in seconds. For example, they could ask, “Who are the top five left-handed batters who played in this year’s playoffs? Now who was best in the ninth inning, and what about when the bases are loaded?”. Getting this level of cross-referenced data using traditional methods could take minutes, potentially missing the crucial moment in the game. With FOX Foresight, it takes seconds. Even seasoned pros like analyst Alex Rodriguez are finding it helps them spot the big stories and trends shaping the game.
MLB AI agent ‘Connie’ keeps the broadcast running smoothly
Beyond the commentary, AI is also playing a critical role in the technical delivery of the broadcast itself. Getting the video and data feeds from the ballpark to all the various broadcast partners is a massive logistical challenge.
To ensure fans don’t miss a single pitch due to technical glitches, MLB implemented “Connie,” an AI agent built with Google Cloud services. Connie proactively monitors the complex network of feeds, detects potential anomalies, and can even independently take action to prevent issues before they occur. This agentic AI automates observability, detection, and even initial troubleshooting, significantly improving reaction times and freeing up human engineers to focus on bigger picture issues.
From enriching the stories told in the booth to ensuring the broadcast stays on the air without a hitch, Google’s AI is quietly playing a major role in enhancing America’s pastime for millions of fans watching the World Series.
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