Non-league outfit Wingate & Finchley FC are set to become the first club in English football to use an AI coach in a competitive game.
The coach will be in use for their Isthmian Premier League clash with Whitehawk FC at the Harry Abrahams Stadium.
Created by a team of AI experts, they claim that the artificial intelligence football coach can provide bespoke pre-game and in-game football strategies for a team against specific opponents.
The coach can use a reasoning engine to determine the best formation and style of play. It can also store data from each match and point out patterns relating to the team's performances, which allows it to make recommendations.
Prior to the game against Whitehawk, the attributes of Wingate's squad will be shared with the AI - which includes fitness levels, strengths and motivational needs.
Alongside that, information about the opposition, such as their strengths, weaknesses and usual formation are given to the coach. The AI will then determine what it believes to be the most effective tactics for that game.
The AI will also provide recommendations in-play based on the scoreline, an example being a suggestion for a more offensive approach if the team is losing.
Speaking about their new addition, Dave Norman, manager of Wingate & Finchley FC, said: "The fundamentals of football are exactly the same whether they come from a virtual coach or a human one.
"As a teacher as a well as a football manager I’m a big supporter of The Big Bang Fair’s goal to get more kids into STEM, so I was more than happy to add an AI to the coaching team here at Wingate & Finchley.
"I think it will complement our set-up immensely and hopefully help us pick up three points!"
Beth Elgood, Director of Communications at EngineeringUK, added: "At The Big Bang Fair we are always looking at ways to inspire young people and demonstrate to them, their teachers and their parents the many surprising applications of STEM.
"It’s clear that AI already plays a significant role in all our lives and many future jobs are likely to need artificial intelligence skills. We wanted to combine the possibilities of AI with something we know a lot of young people enjoy – sport - to inspire young people.
"We hope the AI football coach can excite football-loving children and shine a light on the many ways STEM plays a role in our lives."
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