Could AI predict the team of the week?

THE new frontiers of Artificial Intelligence have promised world-changing innovation and life improvements, as well as triggering terrifying tales of mass unemployment and worse – an existential apocalypse.

But first things first. Are people using the new tech to win their office and friendship group fantasy football leagues?

In a hint that AI is now infiltrating every national pastime, players of the Fantasy Premier League noticed unusual repetition in the first week of the new soccer season this weekend.

Did you see your friendly rivals all making the same moves? Were you perplexed by the vast numbers of people to use the bench boost chip on game week one?

And was the proliferation of Sangare and Calafiori picks out there to be considered simply shrewd scouting?

It has been claimed that players are now relying on AI tools to make the game decisions for them – and steal those all important workplace bragging rights.

Algorithms can evaluate massive amounts of historical form, expected points, and fixture difficulty faster than manual research – or original human brainwork.

The bots make transfer recommendations and coders say they can “crunch data and optimise team selection”.

There are now many platforms online offering money-back guarantees, if the AI formula does not result in overall victory.

One is promoted by high profile pundit Micah Richards, which includes a film about how “stressed out he is about picking his team in the group chat”.

Promoting the service YouTuber Jack Ukiah said: “It’s an amazing site where you can put in your current team and it will give you a percentage, based on projections, loads of stats, AI. It’s a really really good tool.It takes two seconds and you can do it for free. You can upload a screenshot. It’s free to do.

“Win your league or your money back. If you don’t win your mini league. Just use it every week, simple as that.”

Every week, AI software can rate your team, shows you transfers, and tell you who the world’s best fantasy managers are picking. It’s all getting very serious.

“Say goodbye to generic and vague ‘tips’ that have no application to your squad,” the promotion for one service “Our artificial intelligence recommends the best transfer for every Game­week based on your team. Win your mini league or your money back.”

Another site suggests: “Remember when you used to play GTA 3 and found the cheat code for unlimited money? Well, this is similar to that, but better.”

Among the insider information is a sneak preview of the number one ranked FPL player in the world, Ben Crellin.

“Haaland is not in my team,” Mr Crellin said. “I’m not paying £30 for TNT sports. I heard Haaland has not had many training sessions. This could be a slow start. I will hope to fade him – have to have him for GW3 for Coventry.”

Mr Crellin however had selected two Manchester United defenders for the Red Devils’ collapse to Hull.

But famously in the game, there was once one winner of the Fantasy League – played by 11 million people worldwide – had not even watched a Premier League match before.

Critics say AI removes key elements of instinct, luck and banter.

Some fans describe AI-assisted play as unfair or against the spirit of fantasy football leagues, while others worry it leads to increasingly similar teams driven by the same data.

So who are you bringing in this weekend?