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The Houston Rockets have introduced β€œClutchBot”, a generative AI-powered mascot developed in collaboration with Theta Labs. This innovative partnership signifies the NBA’s first implementation of artificial intelligence to enhance fan engagement, offering a new way for fans to stay connected with the team through real-time updates, game statistics, and ticketing information available on the Rockets’ official website and app.

Revolutionizing Fan Interaction with AI

ClutchBot is built on Theta Labs’ decentralized EdgeCloud infrastructure, leveraging advanced AI technology to provide personalized, round-the-clock support for fan inquiries. The AI system is specifically trained on Rockets and NBA data, enabling it to answer a wide range of questions, from simple queries like β€œWhen is the next game?” to more detailed inquiries about historical performance statistics and player lineup details.

Key Features of ClutchBot

  • Real-time responses to fan inquiries.
  • Personalized engagement based on Rockets and NBA-specific data.
  • Secure interactions powered by Theta’s Layer-1 blockchain and decentralized GPU network.
  • Over 80 PetaFLOPS of compute power for fast and efficient operations.
  • Advanced natural language processing (NLP) models for nuanced understanding of user queries.

With these capabilities, the Rockets are not just innovating on the court but also off it, setting a new benchmark for interactive sports entertainment.

How Theta Labs Powers ClutchBot

ClutchBot operates on Theta Labs’ decentralized infrastructure, utilizing the power of blockchain and GPUs contributed by Theta’s community stakeholders. This setup ensures scalability and cost-effectiveness while rewarding participants with TFUEL tokens. By avoiding centralized compute alternatives like AWS or Azure, Theta’s EdgeCloud provides a flexible and efficient system that can handle the demands of live sports entertainment.

According to Mitch Liu, CEO of Theta Labs, β€œThink of EdgeCloud as an intelligent orchestration software that routes specific AI jobs to the most efficient and cost-effective option. This allows us to use resources like commercial-grade Nvidia GPUs for certain tasks, optimizing both performance and cost.”

Overcoming Challenges

During development, integrating API data from the Rockets’ proprietary database presented several challenges. Theta Labs had to create a robust data aggregation system to unify and reconcile real-time data from different sources, which often returned information in varying formats. Additionally, minimizing AI hallucinationsβ€”incorrect or fabricated responsesβ€”was critical when dealing with game and player data.

To address these issues, the team implemented advanced prompt engineering techniques and a continuous model fine-tuning framework. This ensures that ClutchBot stays updated with real-time data, providing accurate and reliable responses to fans.

Continuous Improvement Through User Feedback

Post-launch, Theta Labs plans to collect user feedback to refine ClutchBot further. Direct input from fans will help improve the AI’s accuracy and engagement over time. Liu emphasized that this feedback loop will not only enhance ClutchBot but also benefit other sports partners as the technology scales.

β€œAs we expand the number of sports partners, we’ll gain the advantage of collective learning. A single improvement can benefit all partners, resulting in a far more accurate and engaging conversational AI agent,” Liu explained.

Setting a New Standard for NBA Fan Engagement

The Houston Rockets’ ClutchBot, powered by Theta Labs, is a significant step forward in integrating AI and blockchain technology into the sports industry. By offering fans real-time support and personalized interaction, the Rockets are paving the way for a more engaging and immersive fan experience. As the NBA and other sports organizations explore similar innovations, ClutchBot sets a high standard for what’s possible in the realm of sports entertainment.

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