Al Michaels' AI Clone Will Narrate Olympic Highlights at the 2024 Paris Games

Legendary sportscaster Al Michaels is set to make a groundbreaking digital appearance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. NBCUniversal's streaming platform, Peacock, will leverage an AI-generated version of Michaels’ iconic voice to narrate highlights packages, enhancing the viewer experience. This virtual rendition of the Hall of Fame announcer will host “Your Daily Olympic Recap on Peacock,” offering fans personalized highlights of the games.

The AI voice clone of Michaels has been meticulously trained on his previous commentary, ensuring it accurately reflects his renowned expertise and distinct elocution. Michaels shared his initial skepticism about the project, stating, “When I was approached about this, I was skeptical but obviously curious. Then I saw a demonstration detailing what they had in mind. I said, ‘I’m in.’”

Commencing on July 27, the daily recap feature will allow Peacock subscribers to enjoy tailored highlights based on their event preferences, all sourced from NBCUniversal's impressive 5,000 hours of live Olympic coverage. The streaming service anticipates providing as many as 7 million personalized highlight packages throughout the Olympic Games.

Each Daily Recap will run for approximately 10 minutes, with the AI-generated Michaels' voice offering succinct overviews of thrilling events. For the first time, iconic Parisian landmarks will serve as backdrops for these events, including beach volleyball held under the Eiffel Tower and equestrian competitions at the Palace of Versailles.

To guarantee quality and accuracy, a dedicated team of editors will review audio and video clips before the highlights are made available to users. Fans can access Daily Recaps through both web browsers and the Peacock app on iOS devices. Each Peacock account can accommodate up to six users, allowing them to create individual highlight packages and receive push notifications to remind them to watch.

In addition to AI-generated highlight packages, Peacock will also introduce Live Actions, an interactive tool that enables fans to customize their viewing schedules throughout the games. The Discovery Multiview feature will allow viewers to watch multiple events simultaneously.

“Peacock continues to introduce unique customer-first features that strengthen our unmatched leadership in live streaming,” remarked Kelly Campbell, president of Peacock and direct-to-consumer at NBCUniversal. “With these recaps alongside interactive elements like Peacock Live Actions and Discovery Multiview, we’re combining the best of sports with cutting-edge technology to offer fans an unparalleled Olympic experience.”

This innovation underscores the evolving landscape of sports broadcasting, where technology and personalization converge to enhance viewer engagement and satisfaction. With the enhancements set for the upcoming Olympics, fans can look forward to an exciting and memorable spectacle, unlike anything experienced before.