Join Angie Austin as she explores the cutting-edge intersection of technology and sports with Cameron Stanhouse from IBM. Discover how AI is enhancing fan experiences at the U.S. Open and beyond with real-time insights, personalized interactions, and data-driven engagement. Dive into the world of immersive sports entertainment and learn how innovations by IBM are keeping them at the forefront of both business and fan experiences. This episode unveils IBM’s future in sports performance and how AI is becoming indispensable across industries.
Welcome to The Good News with Angie Austin. Now, with The Good News, here’s Angie.
SPEAKER 05 :
Hello there, friend. Angie Austin and Jim Stovall with The Good News. We are talking about his Winner’s Wisdom column today, Share the Wealth. Oh, we all want to do that, Jim. How are you?
SPEAKER 01 :
I am blessed and highly favored today and just glad to talk with you.
SPEAKER 05 :
All right. So tell us what Share the Wealth is about. I feel like you share the wealth with me every week when we talk and I get inspired for the week. It’s kind of the highlight of the Monday to start the week for me.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, Share the Wealth is about – the dichotomies, the separations in the human condition. And there are two kinds of people in this one aspect. There are givers and there are takers. And there are people who give, and they give of their time, they give of their money, they give of their expertise, and they have an amazing life. And then there’s people that don’t give. And it’s amazing… they get kind of stuck in a scarcity mentality. It’s kind of like when you read about people, or if you know somebody who’s a hoarder, people who hoard things don’t have a good life. And as you and I have discussed, the first part of my life, I thought success was just a matter of going from poverty to prosperity. Go from poor to rich. That’s all you’ve got to do. And only once I achieved financial independence and financial success did I realize, no, that’s only half the equation. It’s about going from poverty to prosperity to purpose. And purpose is not just giving away your time and your money, but it’s also giving away your expertise. And early in my life, it was really easy to give away my time because I didn’t have anything to do, but I didn’t have any money. Later in my life, it’s easy to give people money, but it’s not easy to give people time. But one of the most valuable things you can give is your expertise. Angie, given your background, if you wanted to volunteer over the holidays and help people at the soup kitchen for Thanksgiving dinner, and you’re going to ladle out food, that would be wonderful. You would be helping them, and you would feel good about the experience. But while you’re doing that, you have a limited value. You’re making a difference. But if you’re helping young people who want to go into broadcast world, TV or radio, and you’re helping them learn, all of a sudden you’re worth a lot more money because of the scarcity. Not many people can do that. So when you’re sharing something that is a part of yourself that is unique and You really make a difference. And so I encourage people to give your time, give your money, but look at your expertise. Look at what do you have uniquely available to you that most people don’t have that you can give away and share that with the world, and you can make an amazing difference.
SPEAKER 05 :
Now, when you talk about this, are you talking about in all facets, like whether it be work or volunteering? And I know we’ve talked about that with giving, like somebody working in a soup kitchen, and you’re like, well, if you’re an accountant, you could help me out in other ways. It would be a lot more beneficial than ladling soup because I have lots of people that can ladle soup, but I don’t have many people who are accountants or whatever it may be. So you’re talking about your line of work? Are you talking about your volunteer work? Are you talking about your day-to-day life, just interacting with others? Explain.
SPEAKER 01 :
All of the above. Because if you do it in your professional context, we would call you a mentor. And you’re helping people who are climbing the ladder you’re already on, and you’re helping them elevate themselves. And that has tremendous, tremendous value. And Oprah wrote about it in one of her books. She said… She was there when a lot of women started breaking through for the first time. And she said, one of the things we haven’t developed yet that men have is they have the good old boy network. And when you make it to the top, you reach down and you help other people and you build a network. And she said, women haven’t done that yet. they’re doing it more and more but when you can reach down and help other people in a unique way whether it’s in your profession or whether it’s you know you’re volunteering and you know usually you know if you want to help people who want a career in broadcast you know there are people that are already there they’re interning they want to get started but you know you did one of the great things you can do is go to these career fair days they have an elementary or middle schools and it’s so amazing Because kids, you know, they get to actually hear from somebody that does what, you know, they’re thinking about wanting to do. And, you know, most professions are not what you think they are. I, you know, I remember when I started writing detective novels, and I spent some time writing around with the police. And I thought it was going to be like a cop show on TV. No, it’s… It’s 10 hours of boredom punctuated by five minutes of sheer panic is what it is. But for the most time, they’re just waiting for something to happen. And it’s like the men and women at the fire department. I mean, they’re sitting around waiting. But I think it’s just great when people can really understand that. what it is that the reality of the profession is. Next week I will go when the students return for the fall semester at the Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship at the university. And my first class is always, I’m going to dedicate our first hour together and I’m going to try to talk you out of this. And there’s a hundred other majors you can take at this university that will offer you a job where you get regular pay and you get benefits and Your parents and your in-laws are going to think you’re a lunatic. But you want to be an entrepreneur? I’m going to tell you the truth about it. Now, it’s the greatest thing I’ve done in my life. It’s given me everything I ever wanted. But let’s be real. I mean, there are some struggles getting started. And I want you to know the good, the bad, and the ugly. And then you can make a decision. So when we’re looking at sharing the wealth, sharing the things we’ve been given, one of the great things we’ve been given is… Our resources and a certain amount of time here on this planet. But then we’ve been given unique situations that we can really share with other people because, you know, Angie, you’ve worked at a network affiliate. You’ve done that for TV. You’ve been in radio. You’ve done all these things. The difference between talking to someone like you and reading a book about it is night and day.
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah, that’s interesting you say that. I thought a lot about this because I’m getting to that point in my life, and we’ve talked about this topic-ish a couple of different times, where you talk about using your gifts, and I have so much more freedom now than I did when I was younger. to do, whether it be like mission trips or volunteering or taking a job. And I thought about, you know, what, you know, what are my gifts? And, you know, they are, you know, not necessarily that marketable when it comes to, you know, a regular job since I talk basically for a living, you know. And so, you know, what, how does that translate into a regular job? I mean, of course, I can do other things, but that’s pretty much what I’ve done for 30 years is just speak and get paid, you know. And I guess right, too, to some degree, especially when I was in news. But when people come to you, because I know so many people come to you for advice, and you’ve got your own group of men that you talk to, I think, once a month, you said, where you kind of like an accountability group where you talk to each other and give each other advice. What do you say to the people that lean on you when they’re thinking about sharing their wealth?
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, I… I first asked him, do you feel a need or a calling or a desire to give a certain thing? Because, you know, Crystal and I, when we look at our resources, there are things we feel drawn to in education and famine relief and the arts. And I love literature and libraries and the various things we give our money to. But then when I go and I, you know, I give away my time and my expertise and that generally has to do with being an entrepreneur or being a speaker or being a writer. Those are things I know about. And, you know, I can tell people what they need to know. And, I mean, I sit here with things and I tell people stuff and I think, you know, it took me eight years of hard work to learn what I just told you. Please don’t miss this, kids. This is important. Because you’re going to learn this one way or the other. You’re either going to learn it from me today, or you’re going to spend eight years learning it the hard way like I did. Either way you want to go. And, you know, so I think, you know, when people talk to me about giving in their life, what do you feel led to do? What do you feel called to do? What excites you? And then where are you the most valuable? I mean, that makes a difference. I mean, you know, people go to the ballpark every day. Some people sell peanuts. Other people play center field. They don’t get paid the same. And they have a different audience, a different value, a different exchange. And, you know, when we’re giving, we need to look at what do we have that is of intensely high value today. that is unique that everybody else doesn’t have.
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah, I like that idea. But I think a lot of people have a difficult time figuring out what it is they should be giving or how they should be giving, and I think they just get stuck in the lazy boy of thinking.
SPEAKER 01 :
Yeah, and just helping other people, mentoring people, volunteering your time. Whatever it is, but I think when you have an outlet for those things, it really makes a difference. Or, you know, if you have expertise, most groups, causes, charities, nonprofits, they have a newsletter or they have an information resource they send out, and maybe you can write for them. Maybe you can offer them your expertise in that way. And it just makes a huge, huge difference.
SPEAKER 05 :
Oh, I like that mentoring idea, too, because that, you know, even if they are interested in doing something that isn’t your area of expertise, you might just be like people have told me before that I have the gift of encouragement. So like when I go to a family reunion, like I talk to a lot of the young people, you know, and I was with my niece just in Portland just a few days ago, and she’s starting today her law MBA program. So normally It would take five years to go to law school and to get your MBA. And they have this program where she can do it in three and a half years. And she was telling me, well, you know, it’s not like Harvard. It’s like, you know, it’s a school in Oregon, blah, blah, blah. I said, to be honest with you. when you’re getting a law degree, like any lawyer that I’ve worked with, I’m not, if you’re not, if it’s not Harvard, like I really don’t care where you went.
SPEAKER 01 :
You know what I mean?
SPEAKER 05 :
Like people are going to ask you if it’s Yale or Harvard or a couple of other like big name schools. But in general, going to law school is enough for you to earn the respect of people who need a lawyer, you know? Yeah.
SPEAKER 01 :
Yeah.
SPEAKER 05 :
You’re right. She’s like, you’re right. I’m like, yes, there used to be proud of, you know, of what you’re doing here. But I love like just hearing like what their plans are. I guess the reporter in me, like I like to kind of interview them. What are your plans? Where are you going? What are you thinking about doing next? Where have you applied to go to? You know, like a lot of them are at the age of the, the nieces and nephews of age of going to like to get their masters, you know? So I like to kind of quiz them and ask them and kind of, I guess in a way maybe I am mentoring them or at least just encouraging them.
SPEAKER 01 :
Yeah, and part of it is reminding people where you start has nothing to do with where you end. One of my best friends I talk to regularly, and he’s a regular reader of my column, is one of the most – successful attorneys in the world. He won the Karen Silkwood case. He won the tobacco settlement with the U.S. government. He was in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest settlements. And quite a successful guy. And I’d known him for years, but I’d never asked him. I said, Gary, where’d you go to law school? He said, the State University here in Oklahoma. I mean… You know, I thought I was going to hear about Harvard or Princeton or, you know, and he’s not. I went to State University. I mean, it has, you know, that’s where I started, and this is where I ended up. And, you know, so it’s a great encouragement to people.
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah, and I think this showing an interest in people is an encouragement. even if you aren’t formally mentoring them, just showing an interest in what they’re doing. People, especially young people, they love to share what their plans are, what they’re thinking about doing. JimStoval.com, always a pleasure, my friend. Thank you for sharing the wealth today. See you next time.
SPEAKER 04 :
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SPEAKER 05 :
Georgetown is tuned to the mighty 670 KLT. Hello there, friends. Well, if you are just joining us, this is Angie Austin with the good news. You know, we hear so much about artificial intelligence these days. You know, AI is capable of doing so many amazing things. How about this? AI now enables fans around the world to actually have an immersive experience when it comes to sports. I don’t quite even understand how amazing that could be. So joining us to explain is Cameron Stanhouse, Vice President, Sports and Entertainment Partnerships with IBM. Welcome, Cameron.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thanks so much for having me. Happy to be here.
SPEAKER 05 :
Okay. So recently I did an interview talking about how AI can pinpoint that guy in the stands at some huge game when they say like, you know, section four, there’s a problem. And it’s like, They can like, you know, roll back and like find the guy and see his shoes and his hair and his glasses and like what he did. And I’m like, that’s amazing to me. But this sounds a lot more fun. So tell us what fans are looking at in terms of the future with AI.
SPEAKER 02 :
Yeah. So I’d say that’s a great example. Now, more than ever, when it comes to the fan experience, they’re really looking for new ways to engage with their favorite sports, whether that’s tournaments, teams, athletes, what have you. both in person and at these events and then from the comfort of their own home. They’re really craving more personalized experience and that always on ability to access new facts and data and stories, ultimate, right? We love sports because of the incredible stories that come out of them. So all of this information to keep them in the know. And IBM’s really been answering this calling, again, with the use of AI. We take massive amounts of current and historical data to create near real time content and stats that are engaging fans, players and coaches, whether they’re in the stadium watching the sport or at home.
SPEAKER 05 :
So let’s talk a little bit about maybe even an example of how AI could be experienced for a viewing fan. I’m assuming you can do this in person watching or, you know, at home while you’re watching. So give us some examples of some things you might be able to do.
SPEAKER 02 :
Yeah, absolutely. So let’s take a little case study looking at the U.S. Open, which is our exciting to come to life tomorrow, exactly. So in any typical match, we’re looking at about 156 data points collected on every single point of tennis. So whether that’s the serve speed, the wind, whatever the different feedbacks are, 156 data points for every single point. Now looking across the entirety of the U.S. Open, in 2024, we collected 7 million data points. And then if you take a step back, again, considering that we have over 20 years of data with the U.S. Open, only through the implementation of AI can you really take all of that current and historical data to generate unique real-time insights for fans. So that’s saying a lot. Now let’s show how that kind of comes to life through our partnership with the U.S. Open. We’ve got three really incredible features that are going to be launched in the app that, again, help fans with this new immersive experience. you know we all have that best friend who’s basically like a sports encyclopedia and match chat is that in the palm of your hand in the u.s open app you’re able to ask questions yeah you’re able to ask questions like who has the better serve in this matchup or even how do you pronounce this man or woman’s last name so everything you need to know you can chat live and have a discussion with the match chat feature the second is a live likelihood to win so We launched this a couple of years ago, a likelihood to win projection, looking at all of the current historical data and the momentum that each individual player has in a matchup. And we provide a projection. Then through each point of the match, we’re taking all of, again, those data points into account, as well as what commentators are saying. to provide a live update on the projection percentages to see who’s taking the momentum or not. This is a great tool if you’re not able to watch a match live, you may be in a meeting, you can actually watch the momentum swings in the US Open app with the live likelihood to win. And then last but not least, we do match reports coming out of every single singles match. And if you don’t have time to read an entire match report, you can just press a button where you’ll get a key point summary that shows three facts that you need to know that really take into consideration the coverage of match. That’s just three great ways that you’ll be able to see how AI can enhance the band experience through the US Open app this year.
SPEAKER 05 :
Oh, that’s so cool. And so they just go to the app store to get that? How do they get the app?
SPEAKER 02 :
Absolutely. You can download the US Open app in the app store, and then you can also follow along online at USOpen.org.
SPEAKER 05 :
And Cameron, are there other sports that you’re partnering with and, you know, we can work with if we’re not, you know, tennis fans per se, and we want to get involved in another sport with IBM and this new AI technology?
SPEAKER 02 :
Absolutely. So we’ve had a long-standing relationship in tennis with over 30 years working with both US Open and Wimbledon. We’ve been in golf with the Masters for over 30 years, but many fans may not even realize they’ve been engaging with our AI solutions, working in AFP and fantasy football. Our AI Watson X platform actually powers all of the insights that you see in that app. So if you’re deciding whether to play or bench someone, you’re probably using our technology. And then more recently, we’ve actually launched to get into a partnership with Scuderia Ferrari HP and UFC. So those are some of the sports that we’re into right now. And then can’t forget our incredible partnership with the Grammys on the entertainment side of helping them transform their digital solutions as well.
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah, I think it’s fascinating that, you know, when you think about IBM from like the days when I was growing up, my mom worked for IBM for a short period. And you think about what you guys have done and how you could have become obsolete, but instead you became cutting edge. Like some of those companies from back then that were so big and so powerful, like maybe Kodak or something, right? that you think it was a big name like IBM, like you guys have evolved to still stay at the top of your game. That’s pretty cool. Is that like a big part of IBM and like your brainstorming sessions to see how your company can stay relevant and ahead of the game?
SPEAKER 02 :
Yeah, absolutely. I’d say, you know, innovation is at the core of how the company was founded and it continues to be in the core and how we push forward. We’re always looking for ways that we can do things differently. new and different and be the best. And the way that we approach our sports partnerships is really the same way we approach our Fortune 500 clients. It’s really to look how we can build better customer care experiences, help employees reach new levels of productivity, and make even really more informed business decisions based on data. So that DNA of innovation is true from the beginning until now, and it’s why we’re continually pushing the boundaries for what we can do in AI and tech.
SPEAKER 05 :
Well, I was looking at – I was kind of interested in your background because this is a pretty cool little niche job, vice president of sports and entertainment partnerships at IBM, and I noticed you just started with them. Tell me how you got into this area of interest because you’re working with, like you mentioned, Ferrari, UFC, which my kid just loves watching, the Grammys. Yeah. the masters. I mean, these are a lot of really big names, big, huge corporations that you’re dealing with, a lot of money flying around, which makes it even more important to IBM that you do well. How did you get into this and start working at IBM?
SPEAKER 02 :
Yeah, absolutely. So I like to say I was born into sports. I came from an athlete family and marrying into it with an athlete. And so athletics is Sports has really been in my DNA since day one. And so throughout my career, I’ve really looked at different opportunities of how I can be involved in sports. And when I was looking at, you know, what’s next, I never thought of IBM. And then I understood all of the incredible things that the company was doing to innovate and, again, stay on top of their game. showcase these really amazing sports experiences. And I just knew I wanted to be a part of it.
SPEAKER 05 :
And what are the sports that you played and your husband play or played?
SPEAKER 02 :
So I played basketball, softball and volleyball growing up, but I knew I wasn’t going to be a professional at any of those. So I went to the University of Oklahoma and became a media relations director. expert and did sports PR. So I was in the background of making everything tick, which, you know, is actually quite aligned to what I do now. I’m in the background making sure that all these incredible partnerships come to life.
SPEAKER 05 :
That’s pretty cool. I’ve got a kid on scholarship for volleyball and one looking to get one for basketball. And then I had a swimmer. So I know what a sports family is like it pretty much revolves around it drives me crazy my husband’s like didn’t you you booked a fall break already what if she has a game and i’m like does my life have to revolve around a game always in season you know they say a lot of athletes say i get married in december because it’s the only off season Oh, my goodness. All right. So we’re talking a lot about, you know, IBM and AI and sports. What about, you know, other businesses? I know you deal with all kinds of businesses. How does what you’re doing, like maybe with the sports reflect the way businesses are using AI or can use AI?
SPEAKER 02 :
Yeah. So we approach our sports partnerships the same way we do with any commercial partnership. So really it’s about understanding what the goals and strategy is for any individual company. who their audiences are that they’re trying to reach, and then designing, delivering, and curating these first-class digital experiences. But overall, for sports, it’s not just a branding play. The reason we do this is because it showcases how we use the full force of IBM technology from our consulting wing to our delivery teams to create these, what we like to call like a living, breathing case study of what IBM technology and partnerships can do for a business. So if you’re interested in what you’re seeing across our sports partnerships to
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah, I mean, I’m older than you are. My kids are, you know, college age, but I’ve started using it. I just used it the other day to look into designing like a trip to take my daughter for fall break, if I’m allowed to, if she doesn’t have a game. She’s still in high school. And so I had to design a trip, like a European trip for us, like moderate, but safe, wanted to find safe locations. And then I use it a lot for blogging on a topic that I actually know nothing about. So I have my husband’s business, which isn’t my area of expertise. But I guess as a reporter and, you know, for TV and news for 30 years, you kind of get used to being an expert on anything. But AI has really helped me to become a daily expert on things as I’m writing. And then I obviously rewrite the blogs. But It really gives me – I’m like, oh, that’s cool. I didn’t even know that. And here I am. I’m the blog writer, right? So even as somebody older, I figured out some kind of cool – oh, and I used it to make a logo for my son’s business. He started a business when he was 12, and he just had a big event, and it helped me make a logo. He didn’t necessarily like it, but it was cool that I could help, right? Yeah. Yeah. But yeah, even as an older person doing AI, I’m astounded at what it can do. I work with an organization called ARC, and one of the young men has Down syndrome, and he’s an ambassador for the organization. I met him this week, and we did a big event. And he was telling me how he uses AI to write scripts and that there’s something called love on the spectrum where kids with autism or maybe with young people with autism or Down syndrome are dating. And he said, I want to do a dating show for my people called Down with Love. i was like come on how creative is this he’s so high functioning and he’s using ai to write scripts so it’s pretty fascinating what do you what do you we’d step about a minute left what do you cameron see like or what would be your dream for the future or what are you working on or hoping for for this to be able to do i mean i’m picturing like sitting in the stands with like um those glasses you know virtual reality glasses where like I’m down there on the court or I’m sitting where like the judge sits or something so I feel like I’m really part of the action down there or even experiencing like what it would be like to be the opponent and have that that that serve come at you at that speed that’s like could knock your hat off you know yeah I think there’s so many fun applications for what AI can do in the future whether it’s through like an ARV or experience like you’re talking about but one of the things I think that it’s going to be so interesting is
SPEAKER 02 :
is how we apply AI to really help with sports performance and on the athlete side. Every single professional sport, they’ll tell you it’s about a series of marginal gains to be the best. So how can AI make athletes even more incredible than they are now with these data and insights that we can provide them? So I like to say better athletes become better fan-doing experiences. So I’m really excited to see the opportunities and the innovations in that sector.
SPEAKER 05 :
Well, one more thing that when you mentioned all these data points that they’re gathering during these games, I thought, oh, my gosh, what a benefit for the coaches and for the players to be able to see, like, oh, that serve was supposed to go there, but it went there. It went exactly there, you know, and, like, have the exact speed, you know, the angle of their racket, you know, and how – I mean – come on. I mean, you can break this down for these professional athletes that are making millions of dollars. It could be so beneficial for their game. So fascinating. I want to make sure people know how to get the app. I’m going to tell my son about the UFC involvement and the app to watch tennis and, you know, just get more info. So where should they go, Cameron?
SPEAKER 02 :
Yeah, absolutely. You can download the US Open app in either Android or Apple stores. And then And for everything on IBM sports information, you can go to ibm.com backslash sports.
SPEAKER 05 :
Awesome. Thank you so much.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you so much for having me.
SPEAKER 03 :
Thank you for listening to The Good News with Angie Austin on AM670 KLTT.
