You’ve probably seen videos of those AI-powered robots taking on the world of sports. Some of them, such as those at the second annual World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, can beat Usain Bolt’s 9.58-second world record for a 100-meter sprint. Others, like Toyota’s CUE7 humanoid robot, can even shoot a free throw. Well, former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal is ready for a face-off.
“The robots I’ve seen, they can definitely [dunk]. I saw one that was shooting three pointers,” Shaq told Gizmodo on Wednesday. “I would play one.”
The legendary basketball star talked to Gizmodo at Times Square in New York City, where he was promoting NordVPN’s anti-virus protection software. Shaq was recently announced as NordVPN’s new brand ambassador, adding one more collaboration to his growing list of partnerships with tech companies.
Besides being a basketball legend, Shaq is also a huge tech investor. Some of his lucrative deals include early investments in tech giants like Google and Lyft. However, he has also made some bad calls, the most notable one being his prior affiliation with the now-doomed FTX. Lately, his tech bets have mostly centered around artificial intelligence. He has invested in Edsoma, an AI learning assistant for kids, and even unveiled an AI shopping assistant with Carvana, called ‘Shaqbot.’
O’Neal has said that he only backs products and services that he actually believes in , and he does believe in AI, it seems. Shaq said that he is a ChatGPT user, and dismissed some of the public skepticism over the rise of AI chatbots.
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