How AI is Reshaping Sports Analytics, Energy, and Transportation

Artificial intelligence already plays a quiet role in everyday digital tasks, from answering questions online to estimating when a rideshare will arrive. But its influence is spreading well beyond screens and software.

That broader impact was the focus of the first World Changing Ideas Summit, a conference organized by Fast Company and Johns Hopkins University at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center. Speakers from technology, energy, and academic research discussed how AI is reshaping transportation, power generation, scientific discovery, and even sports.

1. Autonomous vehicles and the push for safer roads

One area drawing significant attention is road safety. Traffic accidents claimed nearly 40,000 lives in the U.S. in 2024, according to federal data.

Waymo, which operates driverless cars in five American cities, says that automation could help bring that number down. According to Smitha Shyam, a senior engineering director at the company, AI enables vehicles to recognize their surroundings, anticipate the behavior of other road users, and determine safe routes in real time.

Waymo also relies on advanced simulations built with generative AI to expose its systems to countless scenarios that would be difficult or dangerous to recreate in traffic. Independent reviews of crash and insurance data suggest that Waymo’s vehicles perform better than the average human driver on several safety measures, including fewer serious collisions and lower rates of injury-related incidents.

2. Energy demand in the age of AI

Energy was another focus of the summit, particularly as electricity demand continues to climb. Rising utility bills have become a political issue and a concern for households, and federal projections indicate that retail power prices will outpace inflation through at least 2026.

AI-driven data centers are contributing to increased demand, though the scale and timing of that growth remain uncertain, according to Exelon CEO Calvin Butler. What is clear, he said, is that current infrastructure is not sufficient. Addressing both supply and affordability will require drawing from a wide mix of sources, including renewables, natural gas, and nuclear power. In Butler’s view, no single option can solve the problem alone.

3. AI and new materials

AI is also accelerating progress in material science, particularly for applications that involve extreme conditions such as atmospheric reentry or hypersonic travel. Developing materials for these environments often means testing countless combinations or inventing entirely new substances, both of which are time-consuming and expensive.

K.T. Ramesh, a professor of science and engineering at Johns Hopkins, said AI has transformed that process. By scanning vast ranges of possible material properties, algorithms can quickly narrow down promising candidates. Researchers can then simulate performance and analyze outcomes far more efficiently than before. The result, Ramesh noted, is a shift in mindset. Scientists spend less time worrying about feasibility and more time defining their goals.

4. Sports analytics powered by AI

On a very different stage, AI is changing how sports are analyzed. Through the Johns Hopkins Sports Analytics Research Group, researchers are working with professional teams and leagues to extract new insights from performance data. Baseball has been a primary focus because of its structured, play-by-play nature.

Anton Dahbura, who co-directs the Johns Hopkins Institute for Assured Autonomy and founded the research group, said these tools are helping teams refine strategy, support player development, and reduce injury risk. Over time, the same data could enhance the fan experience by delivering real-time analysis during games.

Researchers are now extending their work to faster-paced sports such as soccer and basketball, where movement is more continuous. Dahbura added that techniques developed in sports often find uses elsewhere, including in medical technology, wearable devices, and broader data optimization efforts.

As quantum computing matures through companies like D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS), its combination with AI could deliver even more transformative changes to sports analysis, material science and other disciplines.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/QBTS

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