ASC and CSIRO Launch World-First AI Guidelines for Australian Sport

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, have revealed a landmark framework to govern the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the nation’s sporting landscape.

The release includes two pioneering documents: the Guide for Responsible AI in Sport and the Roadmap for AI in Australian Sport, marking the first time a national sporting body has established a comprehensive ethical and strategic “playbook” for AI integration.

The initiative, which follows two years of extensive consultation with over 100 representatives from the technology, government, and sport sectors, aims to position Australia as a global leader in sports innovation ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Commenting on the framework revelation, Australian Sports Commission CEO, Kieren Perkins OAM, said: “Sport thrives on innovation and AI is the next frontier.”

“It can sharpen performance, predict injuries, uncover talent and give volunteers back precious time. However, these new opportunities pose new risks which must be understood and carefully managed,” Perkins OAM said.

Strategic Roadmap: Four Priority Pillars

The Roadmap for AI in Australian Sport identifies four key areas where AI is already delivering commercial and performance impacts. By streamlining administrative tasks for Australia’s 2.9 million sport volunteers, the ASC estimates that saving just one hour per week per volunteer could redirect 150 million hours annually back into participant engagement.

World-Leading Ethical Governance

The Guide for Responsible AI in Sport is the first of its kind globally, drawing on international best practices to ensure AI adoption is transparent and grounded in evidence. This is complemented by a technical report comparing nine different AI solutions, including large language models and sport-specific platforms, to evaluate their accuracy in evidence synthesis for high-performance sport science.

Emphasising that the guidelines are about building trust, acting director of CSIRO’s Data61, Dr Liming Zhu, noted: “These guides will help deliver real-world benefits to sport by improving decisions, reducing workforce demands and building trust as AI expands.” 

Commercial and Competitive Implications

For national sporting organisations (NSOs), these guidelines provide a clear framework for investment.

As global sports tech becomes a multi-billion dollar industry, the ASC’s proactive stance ensures Australian sport remains “ahead of the curve” without compromising athlete privacy or data ethics.

The roadmap specifically addresses the shift in media consumption and the need for data-driven fan engagement to drive new revenue streams in an increasingly digital marketplace.

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