ESPN’s AI Experiment Faces Backlash

ESPN recently faced a challenging moment on live television when it decided to use its AI-generated ‘moving portraits’ during the NBA Finals. This attempt ended in disappointment and sparked criticism across social media.

The incident unfolded during Game 1 of the championship series featuring the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. As ABC transitioned to a commercial break, viewers were expecting an animated clip of Spurs legend Tony Parker celebrating his 2003 NBA Championship victory.

However, what viewers actually saw was, well, rather unsettling. Many described the animation as something out of the uncanny valley, leading to confusion and criticism online.

The network had aimed to animate a still photo of Parker, but the results were less than flattering. Online comments pointed out how the AI seemed to distort his features in a rather jarring way.

Some fans didn’t hold back, with one asking, “Why use AI when you literally have the photo?” Another tweeted their disbelief, saying, “I saw this last night and immediately thought, ‘Who is this?'”

Parker wasn’t alone in this AI experiment; ESPN also tried the same approach with other NBA icons like Bill Russell and Kobe Bryant.

As the NBA Finals progressed, the animated portraits disappeared completely during Game 2 and did not return for the rest of the series. It seems the network executives recognized the misstep and quietly decided to pull the plug on the experiment.

While the AI technology was confirmed to have been used for these graphics, ESPN’s management is now pondering its future in broadcasts. The whole situation raises questions about why a network with such a vast archive of NBA content would pivot to AI for animation in the first place.