Fans design Manchester City's controversial new kit with AI
- Manchester City is hosting a competition for fans to create an AI-designed third kit for the 2026-2027 season.
- Participants can use a text-to-image generator to develop their designs, which will be reviewed by fans and experts.
- The winning design will be worn by Manchester City players and represents a significant step in integrating technology with sports.
In an innovative move, Manchester City, a prominent football club in England, announced a competition inviting its fans to design the team's new third kit for the 2026-2027 season using artificial intelligence. This initiative allows fans to engage creatively by utilizing a text-to-image uniform generator developed in partnership with Puma and the AI company DeepObjects. To participate, fans must create an account, submit a prompt detailing their design vision, and select a specific style, such as 'abstract' or 'dream visions.' Each participant receives 15 credits to generate designs, but they can submit only two entries for the competition that will conclude on December 20, 2024. The winners will have their designs worn by players Ederson, Stefan Ortega, and Rico Lewis, marking a historic moment as it will be the first AI-generated soccer uniform to be featured on the pitch. The competition also involves fan ratings and expert reviews from Manchester City and Puma, ensuring that the best designs are recognized and chosen. While the club embraces this modern approach to kit design, it does so amid challenging circumstances, as they are currently facing scrutiny regarding an investigation into alleged compliance violations related to Premier League financial rules. This context adds an intriguing layer to the competition, potentially allowing fans to contribute positively to the club's image during a turbulent period.