AI camera mistakes referee’s head for soccer ball during game

As the video clearly shows, much of the game's footage wound up consisting of clear shots of the referee and his bald head, since apparently the AI had a problem differentiating between a ball and a bald head.

According to IFL Science, the club had adopted the new technology a few weeks ago, when it was switching from human camera operators to AI-operated cameras. According to them, the brand new "Pixellot system uses cameras with in-built, AI, ball-tracking technology." Apparently, that technology has a few bugs that still need to be ironed out.

This problem is compounded by the fact that, at this point, physical attendance is not permitted in the stadium, so all spectators were subject to the vagaries and whims of the errant AI and it's mis-focused camera.

People viewing the game responded with a series of jokes and complaints, including suggesting a hat or wig for the referee to help the AI make better decisions. They also noted the fact that they missed memorable moments of the game, like goals being scored. Others said that, given the quality of the game, the AI glitch may have been a blessing.