Artificial intelligence called out

Electronic line-calling embarrassment for Wimbledon

- by SERENA WYLDE

THE Wimbledon tennis championships have eliminated human line judges in favour of an electronic line-calling system that booms the word 'out' robotically when a ball falls beyond the designated line. That is, until it stops working.

A spokesperson for the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) said investigations revealed the automated system was “deactivated in error on part of the server's side of the court, for one game, by those operating the system”. The error favoured a British player, as her Russian opponent was serving from the affected side where no balls were being called out.

If the automated system is operated by humans behind the scenes, is it any less fallible than human line judges standing court-side in full view of everyone, with players able to ask for electronic verification if in doubt?