MILANO CORTINA, Italy – The world’s biggest sporting stage is preparing for a dramatic shift that could redefine how elite sport is judged. For the first time in Olympic history, artificial intelligence technology is being introduced to support judging at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, promising to improve fairness, reduce human error, and bring transparency to sports long plagued by controversy.
But as excitement builds, so do deep questions about trust, cultural values, and the very soul of competition.
Artificial intelligence may change everything we thought we knew about judging at world sport events – but will it make sport fairer, or undermine the human essence that makes the Olympics special.
Why The IOC Is Embracing AI For Judging
For decades, judges in sports like figure skating and gymnastics have faced impossible tasks. They must watch world-class athletes perform breathtaking, split-second actions and score them instantly based on precision, artistry, and difficulty. Human judges often see different angles, fatigue sets in, and consistency falters, leading to disputes that overshadow athletic achievement.
That was painfully obvious during the 2024 Paris Olympics, when a scoring dispute involving US gymnast Jordan Chiles highlighted how minute timing issues in rule interpretation can dramatically shift medal outcomes.
Enter artificial intelligence, championed by the International Olympic Committee AI Agenda, a strategic initiative launched in 2024 to integrate AI responsibly into sport. The initiative went mainstream at the first Olympic AI Engagement Forum in Lausanne in November 2025, where federations, tech partners, and sporting bodies outlined how AI can fundamentally support judging, training, fairness, athlete welfare, and fan experience.
The goal is not to replace humans, but to support them with precision tools that can interpret complicated performance metrics in real time.
How AI Will Work At The 2026 Winter Games
At the 2026 Winter Games, AI systems will be deployed to help judges in key subjective disciplines where traditional systems struggle with speed and accuracy. These include:
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Figure skating, where AI can track rotations and timing in jumps.
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Snowboard and ski events such as halfpipe and big air, where jump height, speed, and angle must be measured precisely.
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Potential use in other events that demand rapid assessment of movement and technical execution.
AI systems will use multi-angle video analysis, motion tracking, and computer vision to provide real-time information that judges can reference instantly. Advanced algorithms will flag rotations, angle deviations, and technical elements that might be missed by the human eye.
Supporters argue AI will reduce bias and inconsistency. Judges will still make final decisions, but they will now have scientifically backed data to guide those decisions, rather than relying solely on interpretation.
What AI Judges Mean For Trust And Transparency
This is not just technology. This is about trust in sport. For years, controversies over judging decisions have eroded confidence in subjective scoring. Historic scandals like the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics figure skating bribery case and later disputes have underscored how fragile trust can be when humans are the sole arbiters.
AI supporters argue that data cannot be swayed by personality, fatigue, or bias. But skeptics worry that people may simply distrust machines more than flawed humans.
“AI can enhance transparency, but only if its decisions are interpretable and shared openly with athletes and fans,” says a group of sports technology experts, noting that opaque systems can create new controversies if people don’t understand how scores are derived.
The IOC’s AI Agenda acknowledges these concerns, aiming to establish clear governance and ethical frameworks to ensure AI is used fairly and inclusively, while guarding against unfair advantages for nations with more resources.
The Broader Impact On Olympic Sport And Athletes
AI goes beyond judging. Under the IOC’s strategy, it could also:
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Improve athlete preparation with personalized training analytics.
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Boost fan experience with immersive storytelling, visual breakdowns, and multi-angle replay features.
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Enhance fair play and integrity by detecting fraud and performance anomalies.
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Support operations and logistics to optimize scheduling and event management.
Fans may be able to see instant breakdowns of key moments, like how many rotations a skater completed, and why a particular score was assigned.
Importantly, the IOC has made it clear that human judgement remains central. AI is being introduced not to automate awards, but to inform and empower human judges with scientifically verified data.
Challenges And Ethical Questions Ahead
Some questions remain unresolved:
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Will all countries have equal access to AI tools?
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How can governing bodies ensure transparency in algorithms?
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Will fans and athletes trust AI-supported decisions more than human ones?
As critics point out, technology can create its own biases if algorithms are poorly designed or trained on unequal datasets. Sport governance bodies must thus ensure accountability and fairness at every stage.
Some academic studies even highlight the importance of explainable AI in judging, suggesting that systems must be as clear to athletes as they are accurate, so human trust can be built.
What This Means For The Future Of Sport
The 2026 Olympic Games will be a test case for AI-supported judging on a global stage. If proven successful, it could influence:
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How international competitions are judged long-term.
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The development of more AI-assisted tools across all sports.
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The role of humans in making final sporting decisions.
While technology will never run a 100 meter race or glide across ice with a triple axle, many believe it can help make sport fairer, more consistent, and more compelling for fans around the world.
As athletes prepare for Milano Cortina, they are not just preparing their bodies. They are stepping into a future where data and human judgment come together to define sporting excellence.
