ESPN pulls use of AI images from NBA Finals coverage after getting cooked by internet

ESPN Pulls AI-Generated Graphics After Viewers Slam Animated NBA Legends as "Nightmare" Images

ESPN has abandoned its experimental artificial intelligence graphics during the NBA Finals after the technology produced unsettling, distorted images of basketball legends that drew widespread ridicule from viewers.

The network debuted what it called "moving portraits" during Game 1 of the championship series between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. The segment, which aired as ABC went to commercial break, was meant to showcase animated versions of classic NBA photographs.

Instead, fans were treated to what many described as an "uncanny valley nightmare."

The controversy centered on an AI-animated version of a photo depicting Spurs legend Tony Parker celebrating after winning the 2003 NBA championship. Viewers immediately took to social media to criticize the result, noting the technology appeared to distort Parker's facial features in disturbing ways.

"Why use AI when they literally have the pictures?" one viewer wrote on social media platform X.

Another simply asked, "Is that supposed to be Tony Parker bc who the f- is that guy."

The backlash was swift and pointed. Social media users flooded ESPN's accounts with criticism, with many questioning why a network with decades of NBA footage and photography at its disposal would choose to rely on AI-generated animation instead.

Parker was not the only NBA icon subjected to the AI treatment. ESPN also used the technology to animate images of Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell and Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant, though the Parker animation drew the most criticism.

By Game 2 of the Finals, the moving portraits had vanished from broadcasts entirely. A network resource confirmed the graphics were created using AI tools and said management was evaluating whether to continue using the technology in future broadcasts.

The quick removal marked a rare retreat for ESPN, which has increasingly experimented with new technologies to enhance its broadcasts. The Worldwide Leader in Sports had promoted the AI graphics as an innovative way to bring historic images to life for a new generation of fans.

The episode highlights the ongoing challenges networks face as they explore artificial intelligence applications in live sports broadcasting, where viewers expect high production values and accurate representations of the athletes and moments they cherish.