67 Taiwan Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association of intensified global competition and the wave of digital transformation. Taiwan’s sports industry must actively embrace AI, seeing it as a key driver for transformation and upgrading, in order to ride the waves of the AI era. This article will delve into the extensive applications of AI in the sports industry, covering aspects such as product design, enhancement of sports performance, sports medicine, intelligent manufacturing, and marketing promotion. It will thoroughly analyze how AI empowers every segment of the sports industry. Additionally, we will explore the opportunities and challenges that AI brings to Taiwan’s sports industry and look ahead to the future trends of AI technology. Let us witness together how AI drives the sports industry towards a more intelligent, personalized, and efficient era. The Application of AI in the Sports Industry Design and Innovation of Sports Equipment AI technology, especially generative design, is bringing revolutionary changes to the design and innovation of sports equipment. Traditional design processes often rely on the experience and intuition of designers, which are time-consuming and costly. Generative design, on the other hand, utilizes algorithms and data analysis to enable designers to explore more design possibilities in a short time. It automatically generates optimized design solutions based on predefined goals and constraints, such as material properties, weight, and strength. For example, the global sports brand Nike released the Zoom Vaporfly Elite running shoes in 2018, developed using generative design. These shoes feature a midsole made from special materials and structures that provide higher energy return, helping athletes improve their running efficiency. During the 2018 Berlin Marathon, Eliud Kipchoge wore these shoes and broke the world record with a time of 2 hours, 1 minute, and 39 seconds. In 2023, Nike highlighted Kipchoge’s numerous records broken over the past 20 years on their official website, showcasing his exceptional achievements2 in the marathon world and fully demonstrating the potential of generative design in enhancing athletic performance. Adidas has also actively embraced generative design, developing the Futurecraft 4D running shoes in collaboration with the tech company Carbon. This technology has enabled the customization and lightening3 of the midsole structure. Using 3D printing technology, the midsole of the Futurecraft 4D running shoes can be adjusted based on the individual foot characteristics and athletic habits of 2 Nike and Eliud Kipchoge Celebrate 20 Years of Breaking Barriers, 2023 3 Adidas Futurecraft 4D | Adidas US
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