An AI-generated version of Al Michaels’ voice will provide the Paris Olympic Games summaries for NBC

June 30, 2024

Al Michaels will speak on NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Paris Olympics – but he may not strike the tone many would expect.

The veteran sports reporter will deliver personalized summaries of the media company’s coverage, all tailored to fans’ specific interests. Each morning, NBC’s Peacock streaming hub will deliver a video summary of the previous day’s coverage, consisting of clips and a high-quality AI recreation of Michaels’ voice, trained from previous appearances at NBC to match his typical delivery.

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“When I was asked about it, I was skeptical but of course curious,” Michaels – presumably the real Michaels – said in a prepared statement. “Then I saw a demonstration explaining in detail what they were going to do. I said, ‘I’m in.'”

NBC expects that nearly seven million personalized versions of “Your Daily Olympic Recap on Peacock” could be streamed in the U.S. during the games. They will all be compiled from 5,000 hours of live coverage from the Paris Games, which will yield hundreds of clips. The recaps will come in the form of a 10-minute video “playlist” highlighting standout moments from the previous day while also previewing NBC’s next primetime show. According to NBC, a team of editors will review all content, including audio and clips, for quality and accuracy before the recaps are made available to users.

NBCU is introducing an exciting new feature to bring the Olympics to significantly more sports fans via streaming rather than linear TV. The company has promised to make all Olympic events available live and in real time on Peacock and to use primetime hours on NBC for a curated broadcast of various events along with a healthy mix of guests and celebrities.

Fans who want to receive “Your Daily Olympics Recap on Peacock” can visit Peacock’s Olympics hub and homepage starting July 27 and select the type of highlights they want to see, including their three favorite sports and preferred topics. The first edition on July 27 will feature highlights from the Opening Ceremony. Personalized versions for each individual will be available after the first full day of events on July 28.

Michaels has hosted a total of nine Olympic Games for ABC Sports and NBC Sports – all with his real voice and perspective in real time. He is famous for his legendary “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” call at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. Michaels joined NBC Sports in 2006 and was the voice of NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” until 2021.

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