This week marks the 59th Super Bowl, a showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles in our very own New Orleans. The spectacle of NFL football extends far beyond the game itself, and billions of dollars are dedicated to pulling off the culmination of a grueling and controversial season. A hallowed tradition in America, the sport is also a barometer of cultural and economic trends, with new ways to engage and grow constantly introduced. The needle is pointing to the promise of technological advancements to improve the integrity, health, and enjoyment of the game.

There is a growing impetus to improve the fairness of football through artificial intelligence and other technologies that aid in promoting accurate calls. Many football fans were disgruntled after last month’s NFL conference championships. Contentious decisions by the referees sparked a debate over whether or not the NFL was “luddite,” fearfully opposed to technology that could prevent bad calls from ruining a game.

Sports Illustrated asked, “Why, in the year 2025, in a business with annual revenues approaching $25 billion, are we still determining first downs with line judges guessing on ball placement from 25 yards away?… The NFL has resources to access technology that would eliminate, or at least ameliorate, the human error we have in officiating. Why are they not accessing those resources for “the integrity of the game?” The queries of a frustrated sports journalist are emblematic of the larger task that innovation poses to us: leveraging new technologies to the advantage of mankind and being patient with the improvement process instead of ignoring them out of a fear of the unknown.

While those in the officiating process have been more hesitant to embrace new and emerging technologies, the health teams that support players rely on these advancements to keep players safe. The NFL uses Digital Athlete, an AI driven injury prediction tool, to provide data and insights to the 32 teams within. Digital Athlete analyzes training, practice, and games to support personalized recommendations that promote player safety. An official statement from the NFL explained that the technology simulated a staggering 10,000 seasons’ worth of games to evaluate how new rules and regulations could reduce injury.

Wearable AI devices are providing coaches and staff with detailed information that can make the difference between a career ending injury and a successful season. This approach is in line with American sentiments towards AI. Recent Gallup polling indicates that a general weariness about the increasingly common technology remains except in areas of health and medicine. Both football programs and the general public are more willing to harness AI for good in healthcare, out of an understanding that it enhances human wellbeing rather than replaces it.

Even those who couldn’t care less about football often tune into the Superbowl for the commercials, and this year promises to be AI forward. The Hollywood Reporter quantified millions of dollars being spent by AI companies on 30 second ad slots. If the NFL and the Super Bowl are reflections of culture, what can this tell us?

The technology is no longer emerging; it’s mainstream and more competitive than ever. Companies are vying to create a product that consumers want to use, and they’re improving constantly to meet the demands of the market (and afford a Super Bowl ad slot.) The news of Chinese AI, DeepSeek, rivaling the capabilities of American companies caused much alarm last week. The resounding consensus was that America needs to continue innovating if we want to not just be competitive with China, but resoundingly lead in AI. When unencumbered by red tape, precautionary restriction, and tech pessimism, American innovators are eager to do just that. Whether it’s improving a game, keeping players safe, or creating a product that is marketable to a massive audience, technology will continue to improve and enhance if we don’t call unfair penalties along the way.