At Suwon KT Wiz Park, before the game started, the phrase 'AI Real-Time Translation in Progress' appeared on the outfield scoreboard. As the stadium announcer introduced the starting lineup, English subtitles were displayed immediately. During the game, cheering messages created by spectators, such as 'Here to See Choi Won-jun,' also filled the scoreboard. The 'AI Cheer Pool' allows users to input desired messages, and AI designs them in about a minute.
On the 3rd, I visited the site where KT operates Suwon KT Wiz Park as an 'AI Stadium.'
AI has been integrated into the entire process of using the baseball stadium, from entry to guidance, game viewing, and cheering. The sports venue serves as a practical space to utilize KT's AI technology and verify audience reactions.
AI intervenes from the moment spectators enter the stadium. Season ticket holders who have pre-registered their facial photos can pass through facial recognition gates without mobile tickets or QR codes. KT and Toss's facial recognition technology has been applied. Currently, the service is available for season ticket holders, with plans to expand to more users next year.
The AI real-time translation service stands out in the stands. AI translates announcements made by announcers and cheerleaders into English and displays them as subtitles on the scoreboard. This considers the venue's location, which attracts many foreign spectators, such as those from Pyeongtaek U.S. Army Base. According to KT, the number of foreign spectators has increased by approximately 57% compared to last year since the AI real-time translation service began.
AI has also entered the stadium's 'voice.' KT utilized its proprietary speech synthesis technology to create an AI version of announcer Park Soo-mi, who has handled KT Wiz stadium broadcasts since 2015. When Park took leave in July due to childbirth, the AI voice was deployed for player introductions, national ceremonies, and game announcements.
While traditional TTS focused on reading input sentences in a fixed tone, KT's 'Prompt TTS' adjusts emotions, speech patterns, speed, and emphasis through natural language instructions. For example, openings are delivered with energy, player names are drawn out during introductions, and announcements are spoken calmly. Park remarked, “When I first saw the SNS video, I thought it was my recorded voice,” adding, “It sounded even more similar when I heard it live on-site.”
AI has also seamlessly integrated into the cheering sections. Key services include AI Cheer Pool and AI Fan Cam. The Cheer Pool generates designs by combining text and images via generative AI when users input player names or cheering phrases, while the Fan Cam recognizes audience movements and overlays graphic effects like hearts or angel wings on the scoreboard.
A KT representative stated, “Based on user feedback from the baseball stadium, we plan to enhance AI services and expand their application scope,” adding, “Prompt TTS will be extended to 100-number customer centers, AICC, promotions, and media content in the future.”
