AI-assisted gymnastics judging in talks for use at 2028 L.A. Olympics, official says New York Times (Online) Amelie Claydon ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — World Gymnastics is in advanced talks over introducing AI-assisted judging at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, president Morinari Watanabe has told The Athletic . Watanabe said he hoped Fujitsu's Judging Support System (JSS), which uses cameras and motion analysis to assess gymnastics routines, could be incorporated into the Games, confirming discussions were underway. The technology is being used this week at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands, where apparatus supervisors have access to its analysis across all 10 men's and women's apparatus for the first time, although human judges retain responsibility for official scoring decisions. Watanabe, 67, said he wanted to prevent the scoring controversies that have overshadowed previous Olympic competitions, including disputes at Paris 2024 and Athens 2004. He pointed to the prolonged controversy surrounding the women's floor exercise bronze medal in Paris and an acknowledged judging error in the men's all-around final in Athens and described the controversies as damaging to gymnastics, arguing that consistent computerised scoring could help prevent similar disputes. Watanabe, who is also an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member and sits on its LA28 Coordination Commission, said he had previously attempted to introduce the technology at the Olympics. The Athletic has reached out to the IOC for comment. “I tried for the 2020 Olympic Games, and I also tried for Paris 2024,” he said, explaining that the IOC has a contract with Omega, the official Olympic timekeeper that has a partnership covering timing, scoring and results systems through 2032. World Gymnastics and Fujitsu have collaborated on JSS since 2017, developing a system intended to improve the consistency and transparency of judging. The technology uses four cameras per apparatus, or eight for floor exercise, to capture routines from multiple angles and generate three-dimensional models of gymnasts' movements. During a demonstration attended by The Athletic on Friday, Fujitsu representatives used the system to analyse American gymnast Skye Blakely's routine, showing how it produces joint measurements and scoring information within approximately 10 to 15 seconds of completion. Watanabe said his ultimate ambition was for AI to determine gymnastics scores without relying on human judges, although officials would still be needed to oversee exceptional circumstances, but he argued that greater transparency could help spectators understand how scores are awarded. World Gymnastics maintains that JSS remains a support tool and does not independently determine official scores.