Google Cloud is providing AI-powered video analysis tools to Olympic athletes weeks before the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. US snowboarder Maddie Mastro, ranked No. 3 globally in women's halfpipe, used the system to master the double cork 1080, a technically demanding trick.
The tool applies DeepMind's computer-vision models to biomechanics analysis. This represents Google's push to monetize advanced AI research through commercial Cloud services, following similar enterprise applications in manufacturing quality control and healthcare imaging.
Mastro, who finished 12th at her 2018 Olympic debut and competed again in 2022, was the top-ranked World Cup halfpipe rider in the 2024-25 season. She's positioned as a strong contender behind favorite Chloe Kim.
What's unclear: Google hasn't disclosed how many athletes are using the system or whether this is a pilot deployment. The attribution problem matters: isolating AI's contribution versus natural skill development, training intensity, and traditional coaching is difficult. One athlete's success doesn't constitute evidence of broader effectiveness.
The enterprise angle: This deployment mirrors precision AI applications in specialized domains. Success requires domain expertise and reliability, not just model performance. If Google is marketing this through Cloud, competitors likely have access to similar systems, reducing any sustainable advantage.
Questions worth tracking: What's the commercial model? Is Google working with athletes directly, national Olympic committees, or sports organizations? What data governance exists around athlete biomechanics and performance data captured by computer-vision systems?
The timing is notable: deploying specialized AI tools weeks before major competition suggests confidence in system reliability. Whether this represents genuine AI-driven performance optimization or effective marketing for Google Cloud's capabilities remains to be seen.
Other countries' Olympic programs almost certainly have access to comparable analysis tools. The real test: measurable performance differences at Milan Cortina.