The AI Contender: Jabbr's DeepStrike and the Evolution of Boxing

Published: January, 2024 | 5-min read

The previous year witnessed a surge in searches for artificial intelligence (AI) following the release of several powerful AI tools such as ChatGPT and DALL-E. This ignited discussions on the potential applications of these tools in content creation, academia, and various industries. The academic community was taken aback when students began using AI in their writing assignments. In my experience during the last two semesters of the 2023 school year, I noticed many students using AI tools, including ChatGPT, as a helpful tool for their reports. In fact, I even used ChatGPT for this post (for spell-checking purposes, I swear).

As the AI landscape evolves, numerous tech startups are racing to carve out their niche by developing services or tools harnessing the power of AI. Enter Jabbr, a tech startup committed to revolutionizing the future of combat sports through its computer vision AI software known as DeepStrike.

In the world of sports, player statistics are traditionally collected by humans in real-time and then processed by computers. However, Jabbr has introduced a groundbreaking approach. Using two stationary cameras, DeepStrike can record a boxing match and generate a comprehensive set of stats on the fighters. Jabbr claims that it can measure 50 parameters for each boxer, including the number and quality of strikes, types of punches, footwork, aggression, and pressure. This capability enables DeepStrike to provide detailed insights into areas of improvement for the fighters.

Beyond statistical analysis, DeepStrike's capabilities extend to automatic content generation. Allan Svejstrup, the founder of Jabbr, envisions DeepStrike turning a couple of smartphones into a full virtual video production crew. Using video footage from a match, DeepStrike can automatically generate content such as match highlights. This opens up new possibilities for creating engaging content, an important aspect of running a boxing club. 

One of the more controversial applications of DeepStrike is its potential role in judging a match. The question arises: Is it preferable to trust AI over a human judge? In the context of boxing, DeepStrike could serve as an effective tool to ensure impartial decisions in an industry historically marred by corruption. While this introduces a shift in the dynamics of the sport, it also aligns with the broader theme of AI's versatility and its potential to transform various industries. 

The application of AI in boxing presents an unexpected yet compelling idea. The versatility of AI is showcased in its ability to replace the human component in measuring stats, video production, and even judging match outcomes. This innovation has the potential to be a game-changer for amateur boxers, offering deeper insights into skill improvement. Moreover, it introduces a new revenue stream as DeepStrike can create high-quality boxing content that can be live-streamed—a valuable opportunity in the current era of live-streaming platforms and digital content creation. 

The work accomplished by the engineers at Jabbr has broadened my perspective on the potential uses of AI. It appears that DeepStrike's ability to collect, process, and display data in various forms is poised to shape the future of combat sports.