ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

intersection with analytics, if all major league sports teams are now using data analytics to select their player rosters and climb up the standings, does Money Ball create any competitive advantage at all for any team going forward?

A: Data analytics has become an increasingly important tool in sports, and many professional sports teams, including Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, use data analytics to help make decisions about player personnel and strategy. The use of data analytics in sports, often referred to as “Moneyball,” refers to the use of statistical analysis to evaluate and compare players, with the goal of finding undervalued talent and making better decisions about player acquisitions and deployment.

While the use of data analytics in sports can certainly provide a competitive advantage, it is not a guarantee of success. Other factors, such as team chemistry, coaching, and player development, also play a role in a team’s success. Additionally, as the use of data analytics becomes more widespread, it may become more difficult for any one team to gain a significant advantage over its competitors. In other words, while the use of data analytics can certainly help a team improve its performance, it is not a panacea and other factors will continue to play a role in a team’s success.

Q: Thanks for that. Now back to a serious question about the maritime industry. Container vessels have become enormous. Container capacity has increased from a few thousand to today’s vessels which carry 25,000 Total Equivalent Units. Plans are on board for 35,000 TEU ships. But these enormous ships have knock-on effects for shore-based infrastructure. Ship-to-shore cranes must be increased to reach across the beam of these vessels. Mooring points must be up-sized to deal with the increase in wind loads due to the huge sail area of the ships. 10,000 more trucks must enter and exit the container yards to take away and bring in these containers. Ports must secure more storage area to store empty containers for return to their ports of origin. Neighbourhoods object to the exhaust from idling trucks on local streets. Ironically, these ports continue to grow despite the pressures of limited urban space around them. Has vessel design reached its peak, or will vessels continue to grow?

A. The size of container vessels has increased significantly in recent years, and plans for even larger vessels are being developed. The main drivers behind the trend towards larger vessels are economic efficiency and cost savings. Larger vessels can carry more cargo and have lower operating costs per unit of cargo compared to smaller vessels. However, as you mentioned, the increasing size of container vessels also has a number of negative impacts on shore-based infrastructure, including the need for larger ship-to-shore cranes, larger mooring points, and more storage space for empty containers. Additionally, the increase in truck traffic to and from ports can cause congestion and air pollution in nearby neighborhoods.

It is not clear if vessel design has reached its peak or if vessels will continue to grow. The trend towards larger vessels may be limited by the constraints of existing infrastructure and the costs of upgrading or building new infrastructure to accommodate larger vessels. Additionally, there may be environmental and social impacts that need to be considered, such as the carbon emissions of larger vessels and the impact on communities near ports. Ultimately, the future size of container vessels will depend on a variety of factors, including economic considerations, technological advances, and the constraints and opportunities presented by existing infrastructure.

Q: OK, now let’s have some fun. I am going to give you two options. I would like you to choose one and give me one sentence why you made that choice. OK?

A. Sure, I’m happy to help. Please go ahead and give me the two options and I will do my best to choose one and provide a reason for my choice.