Fantasy Football fans will use AI to gain an edge in their teams – here’s who it picked

The fantasy Premier League is back, and so is the battle to win the title – with two thirds of fantasy football players set to use AI throughout the season to get one over on their rivals

As the Premier League kicks off again, it has been revealedf that artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly popular in fantasy football games. Millions of fans will be seeking to outdo their mates in Fantasy Premier League and other virtual footie games throughout the season, City AM has claimed.

Exclusive research by Virgin Media O2 reveals that a whopping two thirds of fantasy football enthusiasts will be harnessing AI during the season to get ahead in the title race. That figure leaps to nearly 80% among those aged 25-34, while less than 40% of over-65s reckon they’ll give AI a whirl.

While an AI algorithm can’t predict who’ll shine on any given matchday, it could prove handy for spotting trends based on past matches and seasons, as reported by City AM.

Jeanie York, chief technology officer at Virgin Media O2, commented: “Fantasy football is no longer just about gut instinct, as many players are using AI to make smarter and faster decisions when it comes to their team.

“We’ve seen data completely revolutionise many sports, like baseball and Formula 1, so it’s no shocker that Fantasy Football players are using it to gain an edge. This is another brilliant example of how digital habits are evolving and why we’re upgrading our networks to keep pace.”

By inputting a prompt into Gemini, Google’s AI software, it can offer strategy advice on where to splash the most cash and which formation will yield success.

The AI’s selection included: Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels as the goalie, Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, Villa’s Ezri Konsa and Burnley’s Maxime Esteve forming the backline.

In midfield, it chose Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Newcastle’s Elliot Anderson.

Leading the attack, it selected Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, Villa’s Ollie Watkins and Chelsea’s Joao Pedro.

However, there’s a glitch in the matrix – Anderson actually plays for Nottingham Forest. Despite this hiccup, it’s clear that AI is making strides in the fantasy football realm, and fans are surely on the brink of cracking the code.

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