What is an athlete digital twin?
A digital twin is an AI model of an athlete's face, body or voice. Here is how they are made, used and controlled.
"Digital twin" is used for many things in sport, from performance models to AI likenesses. In licensing, it means an AI model that can produce images, video or audio of a specific athlete.
How a likeness twin is made
Approved reference photos, video and voice recordings are used to create a model that can render the athlete in new, approved scenarios.
Where twins are used
- Marketing and sponsor activations.
- Personalised fan messages.
- Games, apps and training products.
Who should control it
The athlete. The model should only run on approved briefs, with labelled output, and be deleted at the end of the deal.
Frequently asked questions
Is a digital twin the same as a deepfake?
Technically similar, but a licensed digital twin is created and used with the athlete's consent. A deepfake usually is not.