#VivaTech: AI, Football & the Future Fan
From Kings League to Smart Robotics: How Sport Became Tech’s Favorite Lab Gerard Piqué, Founder of Kings League The world’s biggest startup and tech show, Viva Technology , gathered more than 165,000 attendees in Paris this June. This year, the intersection of sports, AI, and immersive tech stole the spotlight. Athletes, investors, and engineers alike unpacked how data and design are reshaping how we play, watch, and monetize sports. “This is the decade of robotics.” — Jensen Huang, NVIDIA CEO Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang delivered one of the most talked-about keynotes at VivaTech, framing AI's evolution through three eras: perception, generative, and now, agentic. The current wave? Robots that can reason, plan, and act—bringing major implications for sports performance , logistics , and venue automation . What this means for sports: Autonomous robots could soon assist in injury prevention, refereeing, training, or stadium operations. Nvidia will deploy 18,000 Blackwell chips in France as part of a partnership with AI startup Mistral, aimed at building sovereign AI compute. Plans for 20 new “AI factories” in Europe mean sports tech startups will soon have more localized, high-power infrastructure. "These aren't just data centers. They're factories manufacturing intelligence." — Jensen Huang “From day one, we had millions watching.” — Gerard Piqué, Founder of Kings League The Kings League, founded by retired Barcelona and Spain football star Gerard Piqué, has exploded by merging football with creator culture . By blending pro players, Twitch streamers, and rule-breaking formats, it’s captured the attention of a generation raised on TikTok, not TV. The numbers: First final hosted 92,000 people at Camp Nou . Within 3 months of launch, the league had over 7 billion online impressions and 400 million digital interactions . 85% of the audience is under 35, with viewership dominated by Gen Z and Gen Alpha . Piqué's mission? To build a sport that fits how youth consume content—fast, fun, and hyper-social. "We created a football show made for Twitch, for TikTok, and for this generation." — Gerard Piqué “Immersive experiences are not optional.” — Capgemini (Future of Sports Track) Capgemini curated VivaTech’s “Future of Sports” segment, aligning with its belief that sports fandom is becoming increasingly immersive, digital, and data-rich . Stadiums and clubs aren’t just selling tickets—they’re selling experience. Featured tech: AR/VR overlays that allow fans to see real-time stats, camera feeds, or interactive ads via smart glasses. AI platforms that personalize fan content and drive higher loyalty and retention rates. Gamified interfaces for younger fans, helping clubs build fanbases long before ticket sales. "Digital-native fans want real-time engagement, not just match-day tradition." — Capgemini VivaTech Team “We create data. Now we’re learning to use it.” — KIBI Sports Wearables have existed for over a decade, but AI is what’s unlocking their full potential . At VivaTech, startups like KIBI Sports and Footrax showcased wearable systems that go beyond tracking steps or heart rate—they deliver predictive insights in real time. Highlights: KIBI’s smart insoles and GPS gear are used by youth academies and semi-pro teams across Europe. Academic teams demonstrated AI-enhanced textile sensors with over 92% action recognition accuracy in basketball and tennis. Tools like SportsBuddy AI allow grassroots coaches to analyze match videos, replacing costly scouting and video analyst staff. "Real-time analysis will be as normal as the stopwatch in five years." — KIBI Sports Lead Engineer “We feel ready to attack the big animal—the U.S.” — Djamel Agaoua, CEO, Kings League Former Deezer CEO and now Kings League CEO Djamel Agaoua laid out their aggressive expansion roadmap: North America. While Europe provided proof of concept, the next stage is scaling the entertainment model in the U.S., where sports media rights are a multi-billion-dollar industry. U.S. push: Planned launch in late 2025 or early 2026 starting on the East Coast. Estimated 4x higher market entry costs than Spain. The league raised €60 million in new funding to support expansion and tech platform development. "The U.S. market is built for spectacle—and Kings League is a spectacle." — Djamel Agaoua What’s Next? Q: What are the key sectors in sports tech now?A: Real-time performance tracking, immersive broadcasting, youth engagement formats, and localized AI infrastructure. Q: Is this a hype cycle or true disruption?A: The adoption curve is already bending—wearables are in schools, Kings League is monetizing before legacy leagues, and AI factories are being built on every continent. Q: What’s the next big metric?A: Engagement-per-minute. If Netflix measures stickiness in seconds, why not sports? Final Whistle VivaTech 2025 proved that sports is now the most dynamic lab for applied AI, immersive content, and community innovation. From chipsets to chip-ins, the future of fandom is real-time, personalized, and deeply digital.
