The Rise of AI in Sports: A TOOL, NOT a Teammate

(Warning: This article includes content that may be troublesome or sensitive to readers)

AI has become more and more popular these days, especially as society continues to push for anything that makes us better, stronger, healthier, quicker…the list goes on. A quick question or prompt into your favorite AI TOOL can produce an incredible amount of information in mere seconds. 

But as we know, AI has its flaws. The information produced from our simple prompt comes from millions of webpages and trillions of words scattered across the internet. And as the saying goes, ‘just because you saw it on the internet, doesn’t make it true/accurate/right.’

Even worse is the fact that many of the tech companies who manage these AI TOOLS are being sued for the role their chatbot played in events like sexual exploitation, AI-induced psychosis, self-harm, and even suicide – yes you read that correctly. White House Sport Psychology wants to help raise awareness and concerns about AI and how we use these types of TOOLS – not teammates or friends – TOOLS.

Why Real People Are Essential

Humans communicate with far more than simple words. In fact, 70-90% of the message we are trying to communicate is found in our tone, posture, eye contact, timing, and body language – NOT the words we speak. These non-verbal features exist when humans interact with other humans that can be seen, heard, or that can make physical contact. AI does not produce, nor can it interpret these signals. Furthermore, it does not recognize stress, struggle, or breakthrough moments, all of which are key elements in sport psychology and mental health.

Trying to replace real humans with AI in any personal, emotional, or performance context is dangerous. Computers do not understand context, do not challenge your thinking, and do not offer meaningful growth or guidance. They simply give you more of what you input and when that input has a “negative” element to it, you need a human, not a bot.

The Risks of Substituting AI for Human Support

Using AI for tasks beyond its capability—such as personal problems, mental health, or performance coaching—can create real harm. Risks include:

• Reinforcing isolation
• Providing false reassurance or misleading information
• Reducing the likelihood of seeking real help when it’s needed
• Potential exposure to unsafe or harmful content

AI is not safe for these uses. It is a machine. It is not a coach, mentor, parent, teammate, or therapist.

Reserve AI for Objective Task-Based Activities

AI TOOLS are rooted in large language models – meaning that the bulk of the “work” that they do is based on their ability to predict which sequence of words will follow a given sequence of words. For example, if the words, “hi, how are you?” are expressed, it is very common for the next set of words to be, “I”m good, how are you?”.  AI tools know this and that is how they generate their content.

Another example comes via an AI-generated summary about a historical event. There are countless articles about a given event such as World War II or the 9/11 attacks and these tools gather the most commonly used words and phrases on the internet to produce a summary of what occurred.

Please remember, AI has become a very powerful TOOL, and it has many productive uses. We are NOT here to bash or degrade AI. But we do want to encourage the use of AI when focused on objective tasks like:

• Organizing schedules
• Drafting text or reports
• Generating visuals like invitations
• Analyzing information

Even in these areas, it should always be treated as a TOOL, not a friend, collaborator, teammate, or advisor.

When You Need Real Help

If you—or an athlete in your care—face challenges such as:

• Persistent anxiety, depression, or emotional overload
• Isolation or disconnection from real people
• Self-harm thoughts or behaviors
• Increased moodiness
• Performance blocks

Please find a trained professional. AI is NOT the answer in these situations (as well as many others). Seek immediate support from HUMANS such as licensed mental health professionals, sport psychology professionals, parents, mentors, or coaches. At WHSP, we specialize in supporting athletes, parents, and coaches with authentic, safe, and effective guidance.

The Human Sideline Wins Every Time

In sport and life, success is built on trust, presence, and real-time human connection. A parent, coach, teammate, or sport psychologist can read your energy, notice subtle cues, challenge you (as appropriate), and provide guidance tailored to you. AI does not.

When an athlete falters, the human sideline is what lifts them back up. Computers do not. The producers of these AI TOOLS want you to think that they can, but that is just part of the larger marketing scheme.

Your Next Step: Real Human Connection

At WHSP, we encourage the use of AI TOOLS for objective tasks only. NEVER use AI as a replacement for human interaction or connection.

If you are struggling, isolated, or simply need guidance, pause and reach out to a real person. A machine cannot take the place of real human support.

Athletes, parents, and coaches: schedule a consultation with WHSP today. Get connected, supported, challenged, and thriving—with real humans who understand you.