Latest news with #Devlin
Sydney Morning Herald
4 hours ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Could artificial intelligence change rugby league forever?
Pressed on specifics, Driussi was diplomatically vague: 'We're exploring multiple AI applications, but competitive advantage comes from execution, not just ideas. The technology helps us analyse information and identify patterns that might otherwise be missed.' What makes the Bulldogs' AI adoption particularly intriguing is Driussi's other role as CEO of Quantium, an Australian artificial intelligence and advanced analytics company. The firm works with major Australian companies, such as Woolworths, Commonwealth Bank, Telstra and Qantas. The connection provides the Bulldogs access to world-class AI expertise that would typically cost NRL clubs millions of dollars to develop themselves. While Driussi is careful not to discuss any formal arrangements, the potential for knowledge transfer is obvious. The 'Family Club' previously revealed it used AI to identify Jacob Preston during his recruitment from the Roosters' pathways system, suggesting the technology has been instrumental in some of their personnel decisions. AI's influence on sport was one of the topics discussed at the NRL's Business of Sport Conference in Las Vegas at the University of Nevada, just before this year's season-opening matches at Allegiant Stadium. The headline speakers were Driussi and Paul Devlin, the latter the global strategy leader for betting, gaming and sports technology at Amazon Web Services. Devlin, who has held high-performance roles at the Brisbane Broncos, South Sydney, Parramatta and Melbourne Storm, said AI would transform the sporting landscape. 'We see AI as absolutely revolutionary, and we think it will impact every area of business in the future,' Devlin says. 'So everybody should be experimenting with it right now, so that was kind of the key message that came out of that NRL event ... AI is going to improve every area of business, but it is really clear on the insight generation from the data side of it in a sport like rugby league on talent identification, load monitoring, safety of the games through simulations, as well as the fan side of sport as well.' Several NRL clubs are already dabbling with AI. One leading head coach, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect the club's intellectual property, said that AI had the potential to help analysts wade through reams of data to come up with a couple of key takeaways when preparing for an opponent. 'That's where I see the next step in world sport, how AI can save you time in identifying those trends so you're not wasting time doing it yourself,' the coach says. 'The advantage you get is saving man-hours, so you actually spend less time on computers and more with the players. 'You can see the information that's relevant; missed tackles is the most outdated stat because there's no context to it. And completion rates; seven of the top-10 completing teams didn't make the finals last year.' Here's a practical example of how AI is being used. One club found the best way to beat the Storm is to limit their time in possession. If you can restrict them to less than 23 minutes and 25 seconds with the football – they average 26 minutes and 36 seconds – you have an almost 100 per cent chance of winning. Not easy to do in reality, but it's useful information. While most NRL teams focus heavily on pre-contact metres – the distance gained before first defensive contact – to build momentum, a different focus is required to beat Canberra. AI found the Raiders were uniquely driven by post-contact metres, those tough yards gained after contact. Limit those metres, and you can stop the Green Machine. Canterbury's embracing of AI reflects a broader transformation sweeping through professional sport worldwide. American sports leagues are leading the charge, with the NFL processing more than 500 million data points per season through its Digital Athlete system, reducing player injuries by 700 missed games since 2023. Major League Baseball has implemented AI for pitching analysis and injury prevention, while the NBA uses machine learning for player load management and game strategy optimisation. English Premier League clubs are using AI for recruitment: Brighton's system identified Moises Caicedo before his eventual £115 million ($240 million) transfer from them to Chelsea, while Liverpool's partnership with Google DeepMind has produced tactical analysis tools that club experts prefer over traditional methods 90 per cent of the time. The secrecy surrounding Canterbury's AI implementation is understandable given the competitive implications; NRL clubs are notoriously protective of innovations that might provide advantages. The technological investment aligns with the Bulldogs' recent restructure. The blue and whites are constructing a $50 million centre of excellence at Belmore and have significantly expanded their pathways programs, including taking over the Fiji Silktails program. 'We're building for long-term success,' Driussi says. 'That means investing in the best people, the best facilities and the best technology available to us.' Bulldogs chief executive Aaron Warburton confirmed the club's commitment to innovation. 'We're always looking at ways to improve our operations and give our players and staff the best possible tools to succeed,' Warburton says. 'Technology is certainly part of that equation.' Loading The club's return to finals football last year, after missing the post-season for eight seasons, has been attributed to improved recruitment, player development and coaching. However, the role of AI in this transformation remains largely hidden. Given the global AI sports market is tipped to grow from $1.2 billion to nearly $30 billion by 2032, getting in early could be the key to success. Already, rivals are playing catch-up to Canterbury. For a club that has endured wooden spoons and years of mediocrity, the Bulldogs are marrying old-school values with cutting-edge technology. Whether that translates to premiership glory remains to be seen, but the Bulldogs are betting heavily that the future of rugby league will be shaped by artificial intelligence.
The Age
4 hours ago
- Business
- The Age
Could artificial intelligence change rugby league forever?
Pressed on specifics, Driussi was diplomatically vague: 'We're exploring multiple AI applications, but competitive advantage comes from execution, not just ideas. The technology helps us analyse information and identify patterns that might otherwise be missed.' What makes the Bulldogs' AI adoption particularly intriguing is Driussi's other role as CEO of Quantium, an Australian artificial intelligence and advanced analytics company. The firm works with major Australian companies, such as Woolworths, Commonwealth Bank, Telstra and Qantas. The connection provides the Bulldogs access to world-class AI expertise that would typically cost NRL clubs millions of dollars to develop themselves. While Driussi is careful not to discuss any formal arrangements, the potential for knowledge transfer is obvious. The 'Family Club' previously revealed it used AI to identify Jacob Preston during his recruitment from the Roosters' pathways system, suggesting the technology has been instrumental in some of their personnel decisions. AI's influence on sport was one of the topics discussed at the NRL's Business of Sport Conference in Las Vegas at the University of Nevada, just before this year's season-opening matches at Allegiant Stadium. The headline speakers were Driussi and Paul Devlin, the latter the global strategy leader for betting, gaming and sports technology at Amazon Web Services. Devlin, who has held high-performance roles at the Brisbane Broncos, South Sydney, Parramatta and Melbourne Storm, said AI would transform the sporting landscape. 'We see AI as absolutely revolutionary, and we think it will impact every area of business in the future,' Devlin says. 'So everybody should be experimenting with it right now, so that was kind of the key message that came out of that NRL event ... AI is going to improve every area of business, but it is really clear on the insight generation from the data side of it in a sport like rugby league on talent identification, load monitoring, safety of the games through simulations, as well as the fan side of sport as well.' Several NRL clubs are already dabbling with AI. One leading head coach, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect the club's intellectual property, said that AI had the potential to help analysts wade through reams of data to come up with a couple of key takeaways when preparing for an opponent. 'That's where I see the next step in world sport, how AI can save you time in identifying those trends so you're not wasting time doing it yourself,' the coach says. 'The advantage you get is saving man-hours, so you actually spend less time on computers and more with the players. 'You can see the information that's relevant; missed tackles is the most outdated stat because there's no context to it. And completion rates; seven of the top-10 completing teams didn't make the finals last year.' Here's a practical example of how AI is being used. One club found the best way to beat the Storm is to limit their time in possession. If you can restrict them to less than 23 minutes and 25 seconds with the football – they average 26 minutes and 36 seconds – you have an almost 100 per cent chance of winning. Not easy to do in reality, but it's useful information. While most NRL teams focus heavily on pre-contact metres – the distance gained before first defensive contact – to build momentum, a different focus is required to beat Canberra. AI found the Raiders were uniquely driven by post-contact metres, those tough yards gained after contact. Limit those metres, and you can stop the Green Machine. Canterbury's embracing of AI reflects a broader transformation sweeping through professional sport worldwide. American sports leagues are leading the charge, with the NFL processing more than 500 million data points per season through its Digital Athlete system, reducing player injuries by 700 missed games since 2023. Major League Baseball has implemented AI for pitching analysis and injury prevention, while the NBA uses machine learning for player load management and game strategy optimisation. English Premier League clubs are using AI for recruitment: Brighton's system identified Moises Caicedo before his eventual £115 million ($240 million) transfer from them to Chelsea, while Liverpool's partnership with Google DeepMind has produced tactical analysis tools that club experts prefer over traditional methods 90 per cent of the time. The secrecy surrounding Canterbury's AI implementation is understandable given the competitive implications; NRL clubs are notoriously protective of innovations that might provide advantages. The technological investment aligns with the Bulldogs' recent restructure. The blue and whites are constructing a $50 million centre of excellence at Belmore and have significantly expanded their pathways programs, including taking over the Fiji Silktails program. 'We're building for long-term success,' Driussi says. 'That means investing in the best people, the best facilities and the best technology available to us.' Bulldogs chief executive Aaron Warburton confirmed the club's commitment to innovation. 'We're always looking at ways to improve our operations and give our players and staff the best possible tools to succeed,' Warburton says. 'Technology is certainly part of that equation.' Loading The club's return to finals football last year, after missing the post-season for eight seasons, has been attributed to improved recruitment, player development and coaching. However, the role of AI in this transformation remains largely hidden. Given the global AI sports market is tipped to grow from $1.2 billion to nearly $30 billion by 2032, getting in early could be the key to success. Already, rivals are playing catch-up to Canterbury. For a club that has endured wooden spoons and years of mediocrity, the Bulldogs are marrying old-school values with cutting-edge technology. Whether that translates to premiership glory remains to be seen, but the Bulldogs are betting heavily that the future of rugby league will be shaped by artificial intelligence.
Irish Daily Mirror
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
McGregor shares video of fiancée sunbathing amid 'cheating' and 'nudes' scandal
Conor McGregor has shared a video of his partner, Dee Devlin, sunbathing amid his latest scandals, where he has been accused of cheating and sending nudes. The former MMA star is currently holidaying abroad and found himself in the headlines again recently after a number of leaked photos were obtained. Last week, pictures began to circulate of McGregor appearing to kiss a mystery woman while on a beach in Florida. That woman was not his long-term partner and fiancée. McGregor has not commented publicly on the photos, and there appears to be no rift between him and Devlin, as he shared a video of her sunbathing. (Image: thenotoriousmma/Instagram) The other scandal to emerge during the week was the alleged nude photos that were shared by American rapper Azealia Banks. The 212 singer shared unsolicited nude pictures from McGregor and accused the former UFC champion of threatening her. Leaking McGregor's pics, she wrote on X: 'How you gonna send a b**ch a some crooked d**k pics then threaten her not to tell. @TheNotoriousMMA n**ga do you know who the f**k I am?' However, she revealed the threat part in the chat, in which McGregor said: 'Don't be a rat cos all rats get caught.' Despite this, things appear to be all good between Dee and Conor. The mother of four is active on social media, sharing romantic snaps with her husband-to-be. Devlin recently shared a video affectionately rubbing McGregor's stomach and also posted a birthday message about McGregor. She shared a post from a fan account on Instagram, which read: "Happy Birthday to the person who always keeps Dee entertained and makes her smile." She followed this up with a series of photos featuring herself and McGregor. McGregor has not fought in the UFC since July 2021, and at age 37, it looks increasingly likely that his UFC career is over.
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Conor McGregor has his belly rubbed by fiancee Dee Devlin after cosying up to ANOTHER mystery woman & beach snog
CONOR McGregor was seen getting his belly rubbed by his fiancee Dee Devlin just days after cosying up to a mystery woman. The ex-UFC champion uploaded an Instagram story sitting with an unbuttoned white shirt as the couple enjoyed a fine dining meal. 4 4 McGregor seemed in good spirits and laughed as he was being served a cheese ravioli. He then opened his shirt up while a woman was seen rubbing his stomach with his tattoos in full view. The woman's identity was confirmed as Devlin by her distinctive engagement ring visible in the footage. McGregor also appeared to be enjoying 36 month aged Parmesan cheese and a bottle of wine. He captioned his social media posts with the message "get with the program" as the couple continued their public displays. McGregor and Devlin have put on a united front recently despite the controversy that has surrounded the former MMA fighter in recent days. McGregor was seen smiling and snapping pics with Dee aboard the luxury yacht off the coast of Italy yesterday. Pictures from his luxury yacht trip in Italy show the MMA fighter sparring and soaking in the sun alongside Dee. In moments, Conor could also be seen gently patting his partner on the bum on the expensive boat, which was adorned with balloons in the colours of the Irish flag. Dee had also shared a birthday tribute to Conor earlier this week, amidst the explosive allegations about the fighter's behaviour. It comes after the fighter came under fire for kissing a bikini-clad mystery woman on a beach. Conor McGregor & mystery woman spotted together AGAIN on cosy birthday dinner after they were seen kissing on beach They were sighted packing on the PDA in full sight of other beachgoers. After a 15-minute jet ski ride to cool off, the former two-division UFC champion - who hasn't fought in nearly four years - cozied up with the dark-haired woman. He then laid down a towel for the woman and wrapped an arm around her shoulders in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Irishman seemed to lap up the attention of other female beachgoers around him. Conor was then seen at a birthday dinner with the same mystery woman he was snogging on a beach last week. The same day as the dinner, Dee Devlin - McGregor's fiancee - wished her partner a happy birthday. They have been engaged since 2020, and they share four children together. Prior to his beach encounter, the fighter was spotted cosying up to a mystery blonde in a nightclub birthday bash. The star was seen in a Dublin nightclub getting close to a fellow reveller. In the images, the former UFC champion was pictured smiling with his hands around a blonde woman's waist. A shocked fan snapped the pair on July 6 at Soho nightclub in the Irish capital. 4
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Dee Devlin rubs Conor McGregor's stomach amid 'cheating' and 'nudes' scandal
Conor McGregor and Dee Devlin packed on the PDA in a number of bizarre videos shared by the MMA fighter on social media. The former two-weight UFC champion, who has not fought in over four years, has found himself back in the headlines this week after he was pictured kissing a mystery brunette on a beach. Photos showed McGregor o n a Fort Lauderdale beach, openly displaying affection as they chatted and he wrapped his arm around her, eventually sharing a kiss while relaxing on his sunbed. Then, controversial rapper Azealia Banks claimed she received explicit images from the Dubliner, which he apparently sent via X, previously known as Twitter. The 34-year-old rapper took to her account, blasting: "How you gonna send a b**** a some crooked d*** pics then threaten her not to tell. @TheNotoriousMMA n**** do you know who the f*** I am?". Banks also posted what she alleges to be a message from McGregor, stating: "Don't be a rat because all rats get caught." Devlin appears to be sticking by her man despite the latest scandals involving him. In a video shared by McGregor on X, she can be seen rubbing his stomach in a bizarre clip. Another video shared by him shows eating cheese and is accompanied by the caption: "36 month Parmesan chunks with honey. Get with the program. Mickey weights. up your lala." One other clip shows the couple going back to McGregor's luxury yacht. After the 37-year-old went viral for getting cosy with a random woman earlier this week, Devlin was quick to break her silence on the matter. She shared a post from a fan account on Instagram, which read: "Happy Birthday to the person who always keeps Dee entertained and makes her smile." She followed this up with a series of photos featuring herself and McGregor.
