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The Rise of the Robo-Ref: AI in Sports Officiating For centuries, the human element has been an intrinsic part of sports officiating. From the lone umpire in cricket's early days to the complex team of referees in modern football, human judgment has dictated the flow and outcome of games. However, the tide is turning. Artificial intelligence (AI) is making significant inroads into the officiating arena, promising greater accuracy and sparking debates about the future of sports. The allure of AI in officiating is undeniable. Human error is inevitable, and even the most experienced referees can miss crucial calls. Hawk-Eye, a system that uses video replay and ball tracking technology, has revolutionized line calls in tennis. Major League Baseball (MLB) is piloting the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) that leverages AI to determine pitches within the strike zone, a notoriously subjective call for human umpires. These are just a few examples, and as AI technology continues ...