How will robotics and augmentation affect participation and performance? 

What are we seeing?  

• Robotics, gene-editing, wearable technologies, and cognitive enhancement tools are poised to have a profound impact on sport, recreation, and many industries by enhancing human capabilities and improving productivity. 
• In sport, these technologies are transforming training, performance, and coverage through AI-equipped drones, immersive VR/AR, robotic limbs, gene editing, and cyborg technologies. 
• The rapid pace of innovation is outpacing government's ability to understand and govern these developments, potentially slowing benefits and leaving risks unmitigated due to significant ethical concerns. 

What can we expect?  

• Robots will transform industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics with advanced capabilities like computer vision and conversational AI, leading to increased efficiency and productivity. 
• Gene editing could be used to enhance athletic performance by modifying genes related to strength, endurance and injury recovery. This would create an unfair playing field and undermine the integrity of sport.  
• Future robots will have increased autonomy, advanced sensors, and AI capabilities, enabling them to make decisions independently and adapt to their surroundings. This will require consideration of ethical implications. 

What might this mean for sport and recreation?  

• Exoskeletons, powered suits, wearable sensors, and smart equipment with augmented reality interfaces can increase athletes' strength and endurance, provide real-time biomechanical analysis, and optimise training techniques. 
• Advances in performance enhancement technologies will challenge existing regulations and the integrity of elite sport, potentially shifting detection methods and the concept of fair competition. 
• Robotics, gene-editing and AI will revolutionise the sport and recreation industry, enabling inclusive participation for individuals with disabilities, enhancing the fan experience with interactive displays and augmented reality. 

What questions should we be asking ourselves today? 

• What regulations are needed to maintain fairness when using performance-enhancing technologies in sport? How can regulators ensure equitable treatment in a new classification system? 
• How will performance-enhancing technologies affect the definition of natural abilities in sport? What are the ethical consequences of using these technologies? 
• How can sport ensure using advanced technologies does not compromise inclusivity and fairness? How can robotics enhance the fan experience and accessibility for disabled athletes?