The Multifaceted Dispositions of Artificial Intelligence Utilization in Sports

Darrell Norman BURRELL; Calvin NOBLES

doi:10.2478/bsaft-2026-0005

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The Multifaceted Dispositions of Artificial Intelligence Utilization in Sports

Scientific Bulletin

Volume 31 (2026): Issue 1 (June 2026)

By: Darrell Norman BURRELL and Calvin NOBLES

Open Access

|Jun 2026

Abstract

The contemporary sports industry is undergoing a profound transformation driven by the accelerating integration of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly image recognition technologies that enable granular analysis of performance, tactics, and engagement. While the adoption of AI is often framed as a technical advance, this paper argues that its true significance lies in how effectively such technologies are aligned with organizational purpose and embedded within complex sociotechnical systems. As financial pressures intensify, stemming from Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) arrangements in collegiate athletics, escalating professional contracts, and expanding media rights, sports organizations face heightened demands for strategic precision, operational efficiency, and sustainable decision-making. Against this backdrop, AI-powered image recognition offers substantial promise, yet its impact is contingent upon more than algorithmic accuracy. Drawing on perspectives from technology management, organizational behavior, and human-computer interaction, this paper critically examines how AI reshapes leadership practices, organizational culture, and decision-making processes within sports ecosystems. Particular attention is given to challenges of interoperability across data systems, long-term scalability, ethical governance of biometric data, and the centrality of user-centered design in fostering adoption. Ultimately, the paper contends that AI’s transformative potential in sport will be realized only when leadership prioritizes purpose, culture, and sustainability alongside innovation.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bsaft-2026-0005 | Journal eISSN: 3100-5098 | Journal ISSN: 3100-508X

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Language: English

Page range: 51 - 74

Submitted on: Jan 7, 2026

Accepted on: Feb 24, 2026

Published on: Jun 24, 2026

Published by: Nicolae Balcescu Land Forces Academy

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 2 issues per year

Keywords:

sports management,

artificial intelligence (AI),

human-computer interaction,

technology management,

technological determinism

Related subjects:

Engineering,

Introductions and overviews,

Engineering, other,

Law,

Law, other,

Business and economics,

Business management,

Management, organization, corporate governance,

Social sciences,

Political science,

Military policy

© 2026 Darrell Norman BURRELL, Calvin NOBLES, published by Nicolae Balcescu Land Forces Academy
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Volume 31 (2026): Issue 1 (June 2026)