The NBA is moving toward artificial intelligence to automate certain referee calls, Commissioner Adam Silver announced Wednesday.
Speaking on ESPN's Pat McAfee Show, Silver said the league will adopt a system similar to Hawk-Eye technology used in tennis. That system uses automated cameras to instantly determine whether balls land in or out of bounds.
"We're going to move to a system like that where that whole category of calls will be automatic," Silver said. "It's going to be Laker ball, Knick ball, whatever it is. Those calls will be done by an AI, automated system with cameras lined around the court."
The goal is to make objective decisions-like out-of-bounds calls-instantaneous, allowing referees to focus on subjective judgments regarding contact and fouls.
"It will take all those so-called objective calls out of the hands of the referees," Silver said. "You won't have to deal with challenges on those calls."
Silver did not provide a specific timeline but said the change would come "fairly quickly."
The NBA has increasingly relied on replay reviews to improve officiating accuracy, though those reviews can slow the pace of games. Silver emphasized that referees will remain essential for interpreting physical contact.
"There's often contact on every play, but that doesn't mean there's a foul on every play," Silver said. "That's something that can't just be done on camera."