The Paris 2024 Olympics technologies are, for the most part, centered around deeper artificial intelligence integration.

These advancements are set to improve event management, demonstrate a commitment to environmental stewardship and provide an unparalleled experience for athletes and spectators.

“I think we’re also looking forward to seeing how all the commentators for NBC will be able to leverage that Google AI to give you those fun farm facts,” said Bob Laliberte, principal analyst with theCUBE Research. “I’m looking forward to seeing … whether they take it that far and how those commentators actually use the AI to deliver a differentiated experience.”

Laliberte spoke with Rob Strechay, principal analyst with theCUBE Research, during an AnalystANGLE segment on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. They homed in on the key Paris 2024 Olympics technologies that will significantly impact the event’s success, especially around sustainability, connectivity and security.

Sustainability: Equinix technology warms Olympic pool with ‘liquid air’

Well before the Olympics, Equinix Inc. was harnessing the heat from its data centers in innovative ways to support sustainability initiatives, according to Laliberte. The company brings these capabilities to the Paris 2024 Olympics technologies to ensure the Olympic pool stays warm for competing athletes.

“It’s [an] ingenious way to actually think about how they’re going to utilize the excess heat from a sustainability perspective,” Strechay commented. “You still have to dissipate the heat for the data centers, and I think Equinix is really one of the companies that’s been at the forefront of sustainability from a data center perspective for quite a while.”

Laliberte also mentioned other innovative ways Equinix is using this technology. For example, the company has built a greenhouse on the roof of its data center to provide fresh vegetables for people in need. This technology centers around the company’s ability to convert air to liquid and use exchangers to transfer heat more evenly, which Laliberte thinks could have ramifications for generative AI.

“A lot of people are talking about liquid cooling playing a central role,” Laliberte stated. “That might make it [an] even more efficient heat transfer. I look at this [technology], and it’s just a great example of how organizations can combine increased business with greater levels of sustainability and give back to the communities in which they’re serving. So, a great opportunity there.”

It takes a village: AI and 5G technologies combine to power robust connectivity

Orange SA will play a prominent role throughout the event, beginning with the opening ceremonies, according to Laliberte. The company plans to implement a private 5G connection from Cisco Systems Inc. to connect to all devices so they can stream live from the athletes’ perspectives.

“To me, this is where a real coming-out party could be for private 5G,” Strechay said. “All of the different venues they’re going to have to be able to cover — not just moving boats — which I think is a very unique application for it.”

Intel Corp. will also make a significant contribution to the Paris 2024 Olympics technologies. Though graphics processing units have been taking center stage, some things still need to run on central processing units and other types of accelerators, Strechay noted.

“You’re using a lot of CPUs that can actually do that type of gen AI workloads and inference once things are trained out at the edge,” he said. “I think that’s with these AI assistants and things that will be deployed around here, because I know they have some big plans around virtual reality.”

Paris 2024 Olympics technologies: Broad AI integration safeguards the games with intelligent surveillance

Security is a top priority for the Paris 2024 Olympics, with advanced integrated AI technologies being deployed to ensure the safety of athletes and spectators. Privacy laws prohibit facial recognition technology, but surveillance cameras will incorporate AI technologies, according to Laliberte. Orange SA, in cooperation with a group of partners the company has put together, will have a significant role in driving this effort.

“The good thing is they know where people are supposed to be,” Strechay added. “They can train the models on that, and they have been over the course of getting things stood up. You don’t have to do facial recognition to actually understand a bad actor.”

From a networking perspective, these sophisticated surveillance processes will require robust backend processes to ensure their success, according to Laliberte. How will it all play out?

“Hopefully, it doesn’t have to be used for anything nefarious,” Laliberte said. “It’s just as simple as helping people get to the stadium and the venues more efficiently and being able to ensure the best possible experience while they’re there.”

Here’s theCUBE’s complete AnalystANGLE with Rob Strechay and Bob Laliberte:

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