Key Takeaways
- HUMAIN, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, acquires controlling stake in London-based ai.io to launch HUMAIN Sport division
- Combined entity will deploy AI-powered sports technology across Saudi Arabia and international markets, spanning grassroots to elite performance
- ai.io’s existing products include 3DAT markerless motion capture, aiScout talent identification platform, and aiLab facility integration software
- HUMAIN CEO Tareq Amin confirms multiple partnership agreements in development with announcements expected in coming months
- Investment aligns with HUMAIN’s strategy to expand AI applications across multiple industries while building sector-specific technology verticals
PIF-Backed AI Company Enters Sports Technology Market
HUMAIN announced the acquisition of a controlling interest in ai.io at the PIF Private Sector Forum in Riyadh on February 10, 2026. The London-headquartered sports technology company will operate as HUMAIN Sport, a dedicated vertical within HUMAIN’s broader AI infrastructure business.
The acquisition gives HUMAIN immediate access to ai.io’s established sports technology products and relationships across professional and amateur sports organizations. For ai.io, the partnership provides access to HUMAIN’s full-stack AI capabilities, including data center infrastructure, cloud platforms, and Arabic language models developed in-house.
“Sport is one of humanity’s strongest forces for connection, and at HUMAIN we exist to bridge the gap between human potential and artificial intelligence,” said Tareq Amin, HUMAIN CEO. “Our investment in ai.io and the launch of HUMAIN Sport reflect this mission by using AI to unite people, empower athletes, and elevate participation and performance across the global sports ecosystem.”
Existing ai.io Technology Platform
ai.io brings three primary products to the combined entity. 3DAT is a markerless motion capture system that analyzes human movement from any video source, including mobile phone footage. The technology processes historical or live video without requiring sensors or specialized equipment.
aiScout operates as an app-based platform that scores and rates athletes using 3DAT and other proprietary AI tools. Initially developed for football talent identification and scouting, the platform is expanding to additional sports with mobile-first accessibility.
aiLab integrates third-party sports science equipment to deliver real-time analysis and reporting. The platform can be added to existing facilities or deployed in turnkey installations provided by ai.io.
Beyond talent identification, ai.io’s technology has been applied to healthcare, education, training, and aerospace applications, including astronaut movement analysis.
HUMAIN’s Full-Stack AI Infrastructure
HUMAIN operates across four core areas: next-generation data centers, hyper-performance infrastructure and cloud platforms, advanced AI models including Arabic large language models, and sector-specific AI solutions. The company is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and focuses on both public and private sector deployments.
The sports technology vertical represents HUMAIN’s strategy to build industry-specific applications on top of its base AI infrastructure. By acquiring established platforms rather than developing sports technology internally, HUMAIN can deploy solutions faster while leveraging ai.io’s existing customer relationships and domain expertise.
“Partnering with HUMAIN significantly expands the reach and impact of our technology,” said Darren Peries, founder and CEO of ai.io. “Together, we can deploy AI solutions that support athletes, coaches, and organizations at every level of sport, while contributing to the growth of sports technology in the region and around the globe.”
Deployment Strategy Across Sports Ecosystem
HUMAIN Sport will target multiple segments of the sports ecosystem, from grassroots participation to elite performance. The combined platform is designed to support athlete development, performance analysis, facility operations, and fan engagement through integrated AI tools.
The acquisition enables HUMAIN to accelerate development and deployment of sports technology in Saudi Arabia while using ai.io’s London headquarters and U.S. offices to maintain international market access. Amin noted that multiple partnership agreements are already in development, with announcements expected in the coming months.
The company has not disclosed specific partnership targets, facility deployments, or revenue projections. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed in the announcement.
Strategic Positioning in Regional Sports Technology Growth
The launch of HUMAIN Sport positions the company within Saudi Arabia’s broader sports and technology investment strategy. The timing aligns with significant infrastructure development and sports property acquisition activity backed by PIF and related entities.
By combining AI infrastructure with sports-specific applications, HUMAIN Sport can offer tools that span talent identification, training optimization, facility management, and fan experience. The platform approach allows deployment across multiple sports rather than building vertical-specific solutions for individual leagues or federations.
The acquisition gives HUMAIN access to ai.io’s established technology and relationships while providing ai.io with capital and infrastructure to scale internationally. Both companies confirmed they will continue operations in London and Saudi Arabia, with additional markets targeted for expansion as partnership agreements are finalized.
via: ai.io
photo: PRNewsfoto/ai.io
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