China's AI Revolution: Bringing the Olympics into the Digital Age

Imagine watching live Olympic broadcasts where athletes defy gravity, hovering in mid-air like Neo dodging bullets in "The Matrix." This year's Olympics has brought that vision to life! One standout moment was when young Chinese gymnast Deng Yawen soared through the air, her image suddenly paused as the camera spun around her—a truly stunning sight. In that instant, it struck me: "This is a perfect blend of technology and competitive sports."

Curious about this technology, I reached out to industry friends, and they revealed that it's powered by Alibaba Cloud, utilizing a specialized technique known as "bullet time." By deploying a high-speed camera array and advanced cloud computing, they can capture thrilling moments in real-time during competitions, then reconstruct and replay them from multiple angles in the cloud. While creating just a few seconds of "bullet time" footage in "The Matrix" took days, Alibaba Cloud can do it in mere seconds! Who would have thought that such an age-old event like the Olympics would harness cutting-edge technology?

Kudos to Alibaba Cloud for leading this innovation. In 2017, it outperformed other American competitors to become the primary cloud computing provider for the Olympics. From the Tokyo 2020 Games to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, and now the Paris 2024 Games, Alibaba Cloud’s progress has been remarkable, shifting broadcast methods from satellite to cloud technology. This transition enhances viewer experiences, enabling audiences to watch events anytime and anywhere, rather than being tethered to a television screen.

"Bullet time" is just one example of AI technology's application in this year's Olympics; many more innovations are on the horizon. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has been praising Alibaba's contributions, stating that "Alibaba's AI technology will elevate broadcasting for the Paris Games to new heights."

It's clear that Alibaba sets an admirable standard for China's internet industry. Instead of just focusing on cutting costs, companies should strive to enhance value, expand their reach, and innovate user experiences. Just as the Olympics showcases, the goal should be to provide every viewer with a tangible sense of satisfaction—perhaps that’s what tech companies should prioritize above all.