Adam Silver Says NBA Will Use AI Technology for Officiating Decisions

The National Basketball Association is preparing to introduce artificial intelligence technology to handle certain officiating decisions, including out-of-bounds calls, according to commissioner Adam Silver.

Silver revealed the plan during an appearance on ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show, explaining that the system would function similarly to the Hawk-Eye technology currently used in professional tennis. The AI-powered setup would use cameras positioned around NBA courts to instantly determine possession decisions and whether the ball went out of bounds.

According to Silver, the move is aimed at reducing delays caused by replay reviews and coaches’ challenges while also improving the speed and accuracy of officiating. He said the technology would take “objective calls” out of the hands of referees and make those rulings automatic.

The NBA commissioner did not announce an exact launch date for the system but indicated that implementation could happen “fairly quickly.”

Silver stressed, however, that referees would still remain central to the game, especially for subjective decisions involving fouls and physical contact between players. He noted that while technology can accurately judge boundary calls, it cannot fully interpret the complexity of contact situations during live play.

The proposed AI system comes after increasing criticism of officiating during the ongoing NBA playoffs, where controversial replay reviews and missed calls have sparked debates among fans, coaches, and analysts. Reports suggest the league believes automation could help eliminate some of the game’s most disputed moments.

The NBA has already expanded its use of replay technology in recent years, but the introduction of AI officiating would mark one of the most significant technological shifts in the league’s history.