Why apply AI to figure skating? Jerry Lu explains that while skaters constantly strive to go higher, faster, and stronger, subtle improvements in rotation speed or jump height can make a big difference in performance. His system, OOFSkate, uses AI to analyze video of jumps and provide precise, data-driven feedback. By comparing an athlete’s performance to elite skaters—including Olympic champions—the tool offers insights into how to improve execution and potentially earn higher scores. The system tracks key metrics like jump height, rotation count, and landing quality, all of which are critical for technical success. Since these metrics don’t rely heavily on depth perception, AI pose estimators work particularly well in this context. The system also includes an automated classifier that predicts how a jump would be scored by international judges, helping athletes refine their technique. Could AI ever judge the artistic side of figure skating? Professor Anette Hosoi says this is a key focus of her current research, supported by a MIT Human Insight Collaborative grant. While AI can already assess technical elements with high accuracy, evaluating artistry remains complex. Unlike paintings or music, figure skating has a scoring system, which makes it a unique testbed for studying how AI interprets aesthetic judgment. The team is exploring whether AI uses similar reasoning as human judges or simply mimics human responses. They’re also investigating differences between how experts, novices, and AI perceive performances—aiming to uncover whether AI is truly understanding artistry or just replicating patterns. What will they watch for at the Milan Cortina Olympics? Lu is working with NBC to help explain the technical and artistic aspects of figure skating, snowboarding, and skiing using data. His goal is to make these sports more accessible and relatable by revealing the immense difficulty behind seemingly effortless movements. He’s confident that the next generation of skaters will land a quintuple jump—though not in this Olympics. Hosoi, after analyzing the physics and biomechanics, believes a quint is within reach. She’s even considering the possibility of a six-rotation jump, though she thinks that may exceed human physical limits. Still, she’s convinced that five rotations are achievable—and likely to happen soon.