Formula E, the global all-electric racing championship, has come a long way since its debut in Beijing in 2014. Once considered experimental, the series has now evolved into a leading entertainment brand broadcast in 150 countries, pushing technological innovation and cultural change in motorsport.
Principal Technologist at Infosys, Rohit Agnihotri, and Formula E's Chief Technology and Information Officer, Dan Cherowbrier, discuss the future of the championship in the context of data and AI.
"Gen4, that's to come next year," Cherowbrier shares, hinting at the impressive new electric cars set to hit the track. "You will see a really quite impressive car that starts us to question whether EV is there. It's actually faster—it's actually more than traditional ICE [internal combustion engines]," he adds.
This acceleration isn't limited to the race tracks. Formula E's digital transformation, aided by Infosys, is redefining the concept of being a fan. Agnihotri explains, "It's a movement to make motor sport accessible and exciting for the new generation."
The partnership between Formula E and Infosys is creating dynamic fan experiences through AI-powered platforms. Real-time leaderboards, predictive tools, and personalized storylines that adapt to individual fan interests make the races as engaging as ever. "Technology is not just about meeting expectations; it's elevating the entire fan experience and making the sport more inclusive," Agnihotri emphasizes.
AI is not only enhancing fan experiences but also transforming the way Formula E operates internally. Cherowbrier reflects, "Historically, we would be going around the company, banging on everyone's doors and dragging them towards technology, making them use systems, making them move things to the cloud."
However, thanks to AI, this approach has changed. "What AI has done is it's taken away a lot of that friction," Cherowbrier reveals. "It's allowed us to automate and orchestrate a lot of our systems, which has made things much more efficient."
Formula E's journey towards a more tech-driven future is a compelling reminder of how AI and data can revolutionize various industries, making them more accessible, engaging, and efficient.
SOURCE:
- The fast and the future-focused are revolutionizing motorsport (https://www.infosys.com/newsroom/press-releases/2023/02-16-formula-e-and-infosys-partnership.html)