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John McCarthy AI Summer School

12th & 13th September 2024

AI for Sport 

International John McCarthy AI Summer School

AI for Sport

12th and 13th September 2024

The event – what is it about and who should attend?

Sport is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by technological advancements with data at its core. For professional athletes, data analytics offer critical insights that can significantly enhance performance metrics. For fitness enthusiasts, data provides a systematic approach to monitor progress and achieve personal fitness objectives. For spectators, data enriches the understanding of live action, whether in the stadium, on the field, or on the screen.

The premise is both straightforward and compelling: enhanced knowledge leads to improved performance and enjoyment. The sophisticated tools and data analytics that enable the attainment of personal bests are now widely accessible, benefiting not only elite sportspeople but also the general public.

We are delighted to announce that the following partners – RDI hub, Microsoft Ireland, Munster Technological University, the SFI ADAPT Centre for AI Driven Digital Content Technology, AI Ireland, and new partners Red Chair Recruitment, Skillnet Innovation Exchange, Connected Hubs and Western Development Commission will jointly host a hybrid Artificial Intelligence Summer School event on the 12th and 13th of September 2024.

This year’s summer school will deep dive into the area of AI for Sport with both core and applied research tracks. With an international lineup of speakers over two half days, this will be an unmissable event, including keynotes and panel discussions along with networking opportunities.

The core research elements of this summer school will appeal to professors, post docs, PhD students, researchers and graduate students in the fields of AI, Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing. The applied elements have a broader appeal and are accessible to anyone with an interest in Artificial intelligence and the various way it can be deployed.

The connection to the RDI hub

The RDI hub building is dedicated to John McCarthy as a tribute to the Stanford University computer scientist. McCarthy was one of the founders of the discipline of artificial intelligence and his father was born in Cromane, near Killorglin in Co Kerry. In the late 1950s McCarthy invented LISP which became the programming language of choice for AI applications.

AI has has a truly transformative effect on our lives in recent years, particularly with the advent of Generative AI. AI technology has risen to prominence in personalising the content we consume daily, such as customised sports highlights and tailored fitness advice. However, AI’s potential in sports extends far beyond this. From enhancing player performance through data analytics to revolutionising fan engagement with interactive experiences, AI is set to redefine the sporting landscape. We look forward to discussing these diverse applications with our speaker panel.

Our aim is that the John McCarthy AI Summer School will become a calendar moment for the development of AI and the sharing of knowledge.

Every year we bring you a stellar international lineup of the best and brightest minds working in Artificial Intelligence. The full speaker list can be found below

Full Speaker List

5th John Mc Carthy AI Summer School

Day 1: Thursday 12-September AI For Sport : Athlete Experience
(11.30 for onsite networking) kicks off 12 Noon for virtual to 6pm

12.00 Patrick Lucey Chief Data Scientist Stats Perform.
TOPIC: The Opportunities of Generative AI in Sport.

12.30 Mark Hill Leader of product development, Kitman Labs : TOPIC: ‘Unlocking AI’s Potential in Sport: Navigating the Promise and the Practical Challenges’

13.00 Naomi McGregor of Movetru : ‘Movetru – wearable for on-field movement quality analysis’

13.30 30-minute comfort break /networking over tea/coffee/sandwiches

14.00 Ellen Wang Founder and CEO of Sentech AI.
TOPIC: “Beyond the Limit: Sensing and AI for Athletic Excellence.”

14.20 Jamie McGann MoveAhead: Specialised Motion Analysis Platform for Children & Teens. TOPIC: ‘Commercialising Research: Empowering brands to build lasting relationships with kids and parents through digitised movement experiences’

14.40 Dr. David Dunne CEO & Co-Founder Hexis | Performance Nutritionist | Human Performance Designer

15.00 Nancy Hensley Founding Member and Advisor @ Mercury 13 & Nick Sprague ORRECO : Empowering athletes with the knowledge and tools to own their performance and own their data.

15.20 30-minute comfort break /networking over tea/coffee/refreshments

15.50 Benny Cullen Director of Research and Innovation at Sport Ireland.
TOPIC: “How data shapes national sports policy”.

16.20 Aoife Ní Mhuirí Founder Salaso Health and Revathi Nukala Full Stack Developer Salaso Health. Salaso delivers clinically validated solutions for therapy and prevention across a multitude of settings. The Salaso platform improves access to care, eases clinical workload, and supports improved outcomes across the board.

16.40 Kevin Farrar Head of Sport Partnerships, IBM UK, Wimbledon Partnership Executive TOPIC: ‘IBM elevates Wimbledon experience with cutting-edge AI and data insights.’

17.00 PANEL DISCUSSION: Dr. Breda O’ Dwyer leading a Panel Discussion with Kerry athletes “How can data & AI overcome challenges in Sports”

· Kerry football players Paudie and David Clifford

· Galway Senior Football team coach Cian O’ Neill

· Kerry Senior ladies footballer Siofra O’ Shea

· Paralympics in both the High Jump and Swimming Jordan Lee

18.00 ‘Locker Room to the Boardroom’ 20 minute video with Darren O’ Sullivan and Paudie Clifford.

Day 2: Friday 13-September
AI For Fan / Spectator Experience 9am to 2pm

9.00 Bjoern Rosenthal | LinkedIn Head of Product @ Bundesliga
TOPIC : ‘BUNDESLIGA’S AI-DRIVEN CONTENT TRANSFORMATION REVOLUTIONIZING SPORTS ENGAGEMENT’

9.30 (Kieran Collins | LinkedIn Technological University Dublin Head of Discipline Nutrition and Sports Science

10.00 Yvonne Comer, MBA | LinkedIn Multi Award Winning Entrepreneur/ IRFU Union Committee Member / Former Rugby International/ Rugby DAO- Fan in Residence :
TOPIC: ‘AI in sport: Keeping the athlete at the heart of analytics’

10.30 15-minute comfort break / networking

10.45 Maarten Slembrouck Ghent University Belgium VENTOUX and STRADA projects

11.15 Lucy Mills | LinkedIn Founder & Chief Catalyst Ready Sport Global Barcelona :
TOPIC: ‘AI’s impact and potential in women’s sport.’

11.45 Jimmy Doyle | LinkedIn Founder ClubberTV
TOPIC: “Making live sports cost efficient & simple to broadcast”

12.15 Omar Salem | LinkedIn & David Deneher Co-Founders Field Of Vision

12.45 15-minute comfort break / networking

13.00 Ciaran McGowan Head of Operations and Technology, Tixserve
TOPIC: ‘Solving Fan engagement challenges with AI.’

13.30 Rohn Malhotra Founder of SportsTechX The latest trends in AI, where is the money going, what are investors investing in.

13.55 Liam Cronin Wrap-Up & networking lunch onsite in RDI Hub

This is a hybrid event so please let us know at the time of booking if you would prefer to attend in-person at the RDI hub or join us remotely. Limited seats are available. Book today to reserve your seat.

Limited seats available onsite - reserve your seat today

You can look forward to...

2 days of plenary lectures on selected topics presented by leading experts in the field

Networking opportunities with leaders from academia and public institution

Panel discussions and Q&A

Find RDI Hub

RDI Hub is just 15 minutes from Kerry Airport, 3 minutes from the bustling town of Killorglin, and 15 minutes from Killarney. You’ll find RDI Hub at the entrance to the charming town of Killorglin, on Killarney Road, V93 KP68.

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