In an attempt to figure out how to use AI to report sports news, I found that utilizing the strengths of different chatbots produces the best results.
I used the recent Austin FC soccer match on May 6 for this test. First, I asked Google Bard for the results of the match. Although it reported the final score, teams, location and player names correctly, it could not correctly report the events of the game. Instead, I researched the game independently to verify the events and fed these into Google Bard. Google Bard tends to only regurgitate the facts from the prompt, and I was not happy with the results. I did find, however, that Google Bard did a good job at identifying and correcting for AP Style in this case.
I then fed my own research from the game into ChatGPT, which has a writing style that is consistent and that I have found effective. I rearranged the facts into an inverted pyramid style, meaning that the most important facts come first, and obtained a news blurb from ChatGPT. I wanted to see if I could make the blurb less opinionated and more news-y, so I took the final blurb from ChatGPT and fed it into Google Bard to correct for AP Style.
The final result was better than using one of the chat bots on their own. I was able to identify Google Bard’s neutral tone and AP style accuracy, while also utilizing ChatGPT’s reliant writing style. With the correct prompt engineering, light editing and an image from Bing AI, the sports blurb is ready to publish. You can read the final product below:
Austin FC, Portland Timbers Tie 2-2
Portland, Oregon — Austin FC and the Portland Timbers played to a 2-2 draw in a Major League Soccer (MLS) match at Providence Park on Saturday, May 6. The stadiums hosted 23,318 fans.
Portland’s Dario Zuparic scored the opening goal in the 33rd minute, while Austin FC equalized in the 59th minute with a goal from Jon Gallagher. The Timbers pulled ahead again in the 71st minute, courtesy of a goal by Claudio Bravo, but Austin’s Will Bruin found the net two minutes into stoppage time, bringing the match to a 2-2 draw.
Portland earned three yellow cards during the game. Following the draw, the Timbers’ record stands at 3-5-5 and Austin FC’s record is 2-4-4.
Prompt: Please write a news blurb following AP style about the following major league soccer (MLS) match between Austin FC and Portland Timbers at Providence Park on May 6, 2023:
23,318 were in attendance
First goal was scored by Timbers’ Dario Zuparic at 33 minutes. Austin tied the game at the 59 minute mark with a goal from Jon Gallagher. Claudio Bravo scored for Portland at 71 minutes and Austin’s Will Bruin finished the game in a tie, two minutes past the 90 minute mark. Portland earned three yellow cards throughout the game.
Portland’s record is now 3-5-5 and Austin’s record is now 2-4-4.