NFL Teams Rely on Customized Microsoft Tablets with AI Capabilities

The National Football League (NFL) has partnered with Microsoft since 2014 to provide teams with custom-configured Surface tablets. These devices are designed for rugged use and feature advanced AI capabilities, including Microsoft's Copilot AI assistant.

The tablets are used by coaches and players to review game footage, analyze data from Excel spreadsheets, and access player medical information. The AI-powered concussion assessment app also helps trainers determine whether a player has suffered a head injury.

While the tablets' AI capabilities have proven useful in improving player safety and streamlining data analysis, they are not used to make strategic decisions during games. As Microsoft's Thomas Labuzienski noted, 'We're not using AI and technology to make decisions for [the coaches, players, and staff]. They're the experts. They know what they're trying to do.'

The NFL's use of tablets and AI has been cautious but evolving. The league recently received a major upgrade with 2,500 Surface Copilot + PCs, customized to endure rough game conditions with temperature, glare, and drop resistance.