Digital product agency AKQA has used artificial intelligence to design a brand-new team sport, named Speedgate, which blends elements of soccer, rugby, and even a touch of Quidditch. The sport was generated after the AI was fed data on 400 existing games, according to a report by TechCrunch. A live demonstration of Speedgate took place at an event in Portland last week.
Speedgate presents a familiar yet unusual set of rules. Two teams of six players—comprising three forwards and three defenders—compete on a field with three goals at each end. Players pass the ball and aim to kick or throw it through one of the three goals, but not the middle one. Only one defender is allowed inside a goal at any time, and physical pushing is prohibited.
The AI didn't stop at the rules. Using a generative adversarial network, it also produced a series of logos and motivational slogans, including the cryptic phrase: “Face the ball to be the ball to be above the ball.”
Other AI-Invented Concepts
AKQA's algorithm generated several other unconventional game ideas that were not pursued. According to TechCrunch, these included “underwater parkour,” an exploding Frisbee game, and a concept where players pass a ball while suspended in hot air balloons or walking a tightrope.
The Portland event marked the first public outing of Speedgate, showcasing how AI can be applied to creative fields beyond data analysis and automation. While the sport has not been adopted by any official league, the demonstration highlights the potential for machine learning to generate novel forms of entertainment.
AKQA's initiative reflects a broader trend of using AI to push creative boundaries, though the practical viability of such inventions remains to be seen. For now, Speedgate stands as a curious example of algorithmic imagination.
