00:00Artificial intelligence is coming to NFL sidelines in 2025.
00:04The league announced an expansion of its partnership with Microsoft Wednesday,
00:08which will provide players and coaches with better data and analysis in real time.
00:13Fans are wondering, though, will AI soon be calling plays?
00:20The NFL has been using custom-tailored Microsoft Surface tablets since the 2014 season
00:25to help coaches and players decipher their opponents' formations and plays
00:30between stints on the field.
00:32There are more than 2,300 tablets in use league-wide every Sunday.
00:37New York Giants pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeau showed fans on TikTok
00:41exactly what kind of information players get.
00:44All we're looking at is pictures.
00:46And with the pictures, we can dissect what's at the beginning of the play,
00:49the middle of the play, and the end of the play.
00:51As you can see, each down, each situation is labeled.
00:55So any play that I'm looking for, whether it's the play number
00:58or it's the actual down and distance, I can find it.
01:01And another great part is that you can draw on it, right?
01:03So if I'm at linebacker or if I'm a DB, I can show my coach what routes we're in.
01:08Thibodeau and the rest of the league will now get upgrades,
01:11with Microsoft adding their co-pilot and Azure AI technologies
01:15to the tablets for all 32 teams.
01:18There will be more than 2,500 tablets in circulation this year.
01:22Artificial intelligence will help coaches and players filter through things like
01:26snap counts, team formations, and player substitutions to find what they need easier.
01:32That's according to NFL Deputy Chief Information Officer Aaron Amendalia.
01:37Those new devices are already being used in the preseason.
01:40Some are concerned that while AI is helping teams by sorting and spitting out data,
01:45it's not a far cry from AI calling plays and making changes in a team's game strategy.
01:51Amendalia said that will not be the case during an interview with CNBC.
01:56This is not AI making decisions.
01:58It's not AI informing decisions.
02:01What it really is, is AI allowing people to get at information faster with less manual intervention.
02:08Amendalia said,
02:09Microsoft is also working with NFL teams to improve their practice sessions using AI to enhance their video tools.
02:35It'll assist coaches with everything from player evaluations to injury assessments.
02:41One thing's for sure, this is not your father's NFL.
02:45For Straight Arrow News, I'm Chris Francis.
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