At the 2026 Winter Paralympics, Startup‑Led AI Innovation Takes the World Stage |
At the 2026 Winter Paralympics, Startup‑Led AI Innovation Takes the World Stage
The Winter Paralympics will feature AI innovations from both large and small companies alike.
EXPERT OPINION BY JOHN BRANDON, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, INC.COM @JMBRANDONBB
Illustration: Inc.; Photos: Courtesy IOC; Getty Images
Artificial intelligence is one of those tech innovations that always seems to come with an asterisk next to it. Chatbots like Google Gemini work really well, except when they are hallucinating facts. Robotic cars can drive on their own, but only in certain states. Fortunately, several AI startups are involved with the 2026 Winter Paralympics, which started on March 6, but there is no asterisk involved. It’s a testament to how AI innovation is helping on a world stage.
Previously, at the 2026 Winter Olympics that just concluded, AI came into play with faster scoring calculations, replays that took only about five seconds to generate, and much more.
The 2026 Winter Paralympics that started last week in Milan will also feature several AI innovations, and some of them are thanks to smaller companies that are competing against the likes of Microsoft, Samsung, and Alibaba (all of which are providing AI tech for the event too).
2026 Winter Paralympics innovations in AI
One startup that’s involved is CAMB.ai, a generative AI company based in Dubai. They are working with Eurovision Sport for the live and on-demand broadcasts to make sure the 2026 Winter Paralympics are digitally accessible to anyone. This means subtitles will be generated using AI so that those with the sound off or who are hearing impaired will still see the commentary.
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“The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games should be accessible to the widest possible audience. By delivering real-time subtitling across every event on Eurovision Sport, we are scaling digital accessibility and ensuring more people can follow the action live,” said Alan Fagan, the Managing Director for Eurovision Sport in a statement.
Another startup is Technogym, which has helped Paralympic athletes train for the event in Milan. The company makes high-tech exercise equipment and is an official partner of the 2026 Winter Paralympics. During strength training, their tech uses AI to automatically detect and adjust the workout to suit the needs of the person in training. Technogym says this results in a 30 percent improvement in strength training.
One last company that is a bit more well-known is Oura, the startup that makes the popular ring people wear to track sleep, workouts, and overall health. U.S. Paralympian Brenna Huckaby—a snowboarder who has won more Paralympic events than anyone in history—uses one to track her health.