ESPN testing AI avatar to provide analysis on ‘SEC Nation’ college football broadcast [Video]

ESPN is working on a plan to add generative AI to its SEC football coverage. The network recently debuted an AI avatar dubbed FACTS, which is set to be tested with ESPN’s college football show SEC Nation.

ESPN debuted FACTS at its Edge conference in New York late last week. The network didn’t commit to a timeline for when it’ll fully integrate the AI avatar into its broadcasts — in other words, we don’t know FACTS will actually be on our TV screens. But the plan, ESPN noted, was to use it as a supplement the network’s analysts. Basically, the idea is for the avatar to present some of the more complicated stats and analytics from ESPN.

“FACTS is designed to test innovations out in the market and create an outlet for ESPN Analytics’ data to be accessible to fans in an engaging and enjoyable segment,” Baron Miller, coordinating producer, SEC Network/ESPN, said in a blogon …