Owl AI hires Relo Metrics veteran Jay Prasad as CEO

The hire signals a pivot from technical validation to aggressive commercialization within the fragmented sports media tech stack. By tapping a leader with deep roots in cross-platform measurement and sponsorship data, Owl AI aims to position its computer-vision engine as central to the 'live intelligence' layer. This move reflects a broader trend of sports leagues seeking first-party data capture at the broadcast source to drive monetization through automated highlights, localized commentary, and real-time betting feeds. For broadcasters and rights holders, the shift toward autonomous production pipelines is becoming a prerequisite for managing soaring content volume. Watch if Owl AI secures a Tier-1 media rights partnership with a major European football league or a Big Four U.S. network within the next 12 months.

The expansion of Owl AI occurs as computer vision becomes a standard component of sports production and sponsorship verification. According to Sports Business Journal, June 2026, Owl AI was recently named one of the 10 most innovative sports tech companies, reflecting its rapid transition from an X Games prototype to a cross-league platform. The technology, which originally focused on removing human error in subjective judging, now competes in a crowded market for real-time broadcast intelligence. Current trends in sports media favor platforms that can synthesize multiple data points—such as player tracking and ball trajectories—into localized content for global audiences.

Per SportsPro, January 2026, the sports technology sector is shifting toward 'participation-first' ecosystems where AI handles the heavy lifting of production and distribution. This transition is driven by the drop in inference costs and the rising demand for hyper-personalized fan experiences. Competitors such as Trax Technologies and DeepSport AI are similarly deploying high-precision tracking, with some systems managing up to 50 players simultaneously at 98% accuracy, per SportsMediaBeat, May 2026. This technical landscape underscores the necessity of Jay Prasad’s background in data infrastructure; as leagues look to monetize skeletal tracking and performance metrics, the ability to integrate these datasets into the existing TV and digital spend ecosystem is paramount.

Furthermore, the integration of Relo Metrics back into the GumGum umbrella coincide with Prasad's departure and his move to Owl AI, according to SBJ reporting in June 2026. This movement highlights the consolidating nature of the sponsorship analytics market. As AI moves from back-office automation to on-screen presence through real-time graphics and automated highlights, the 'intelligence layer' model touted by Owl AI is becoming a vital asset for rights holders looking to capture value during live windows rather than relying solely on post-game telemetry.