Weekly News Desk
Here are some stories you may have missed from another whirlwind week
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After a week off, we’re back to the News Desk!
AI Corner. University of Nebraska Omaha’s NCITE released a report (and accompanying podcast) this week about recent research they have done on a series of case studies looking at the malign use of AI. The authors look at specialized, unconstrained LLM's, AI-generated music, autonomous weapons systems (AWS), and more. The study takes a broad look at potential threats but there are definitely applications for the sports (and sports gambling) industry. There are lots of good findings in the study worth digging into.
Why does it matter. One interesting case the researchers discuss dates to 2021 where a UK citizen developed a relationship with a digital AI girlfriend of sorts. He then plotted an attempted assassination of Queen Elizabeth with his AI companion. The research also looks at deepfakes and content generation which could be used to move gambling market odds or for the types of threats we’ve seen targeting athletes recently. As AI becomes more integrated with other parts of our lives and people seek out unconstrained models this is a threat stream to keep track of. (Note: I am a Fellow at NCITE.)
Data Dump. On 17 June the WTA and ITF published a first-ever season-long report on the abuse directed at athletes via social media. According to a press release from the WTA, 15 cases were escalated to law enforcement and hundreds of abusive messages were traced to a small number of repeat offenders -- many of them angry bettors.
Why does it matter. The analytics here come from Signify AI, the same group that partnered with the NCAA for their recent report on similar trends in the NCAA basketball tournaments. More data points like these are helpful. The power in these reports is in their longevity— that is to say, being able to look at trends year to year, or even Grand Slam to Grand Slam in tennis. Then you can test interventions or other tools and see what works in terms of stopping harassment and threats and better protecting athletes and fans.
New Olympic Torch Bearer. The IOC inaugurated a new chair this past week. Kirsty Coventry kicked off an eight-year term on Monday as the first woman and first African to hold the role.
Why does it matter. The former Olympic swimmer is taking the helm just two years before perhaps the largest Games in the history of the organization in Los Angeles, to say nothing of the Winter Games coming in a few short months. As gambling continues to spread across the U.S. it will be interesting to see what stance Coventry takes towards gambling-related risks or opportunities presented by gambling platforms and sports books.
New RG Tool. The American Gaming Association recently announced a new set of online tools to help promote responsible gambling.
Why does it matter. Oftentimes the threats of violence related to gambling come from people losing money— more specifically from losing more money than they can afford. Not only do responsible gambling tools help people avoid becoming addicted but providing tools to encourage people to bet within their financial means can translate to better outcomes for everyone. So kudos to the AGA for trying to make this a safer space.
Have a great weekend!