Wimbledon stumbles into AI controversy with mistaken player identities

Artificial intelligence has become an important part of everyone’s life. In recent years, humans have been replaced by AI for faster work and better accuracy. However, the use of machines has led the Wimbledon management to face embarrassment during the ongoing edition.

The third Grand Slam of the year is approaching the business end, and the remaining players are giving their all to secure the ultimate prize. This year, Wimbledon management decided to hire an AI company to manage the competition’s website. That move, however, has backfired, as the management has been embarrassed by a number of blunders associated with the AI.

The website's coverage identified Australia’s tennis star Alex de Minaur as a British tennis player. Because of the mistake, the tournament’s management received backlash from fans on social media as well.

That was not the only mistake noticed by the fans on the official website. Emma Raducandu was also named Britain’s number one player on the portal, whereas, in reality, she is Britain’s number three. China’s Zhang Shuai, who is 35 years old, has been labelled the newcomer.

Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg was extremely critical of Wimbledon’s management for outsourcing the website to artificial intelligence. “Honestly offensive that the world's richest tennis tournament is outsourcing writing jobs to s***ty AI,” he wrote in a post on his official account on social media platform X — previously known as Twitter.

De Minaur has booked his place in the fourth round after being awarded a walkover in the third round against France’s Lucas Pouille. Before that, he defeated Spain’s Jaume Munar in the second round contest in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-2, 7-5. On the other hand, Raducanu has also qualified for the fourth round of the competition after beating Greece’s Maria Sakkari in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-3.