Australian Soccer Player Cristian Volpato Licenses AI Digital Twin
Australian soccer player Cristian Volpato has partnered with California-based startup Callandor to exclusively license his AI-generated digital twin for commercial monetization. The agreement grants the company rights to his digital likeness, voice, and biometric data while helping intercept unauthorized deepfakes. This trend marks a shift in sports business where professional athletes actively monetize their digital identities instead of passively letting unauthorized deepfakes exploit their image rights. It establishes a new precedent for sports marketing, allowing brands to utilize licensed athlete clones around the clock for global campaigns and fan interactions. Under the exclusive agreement, Callandor manages brand partnerships, splits revenue, and uses the AI clone for multi-language translations and potential interactive training applications. However, legal experts note that pure AI replicas lack traditional copyright protection, meaning athletes must rely primarily on image and privacy laws to protect their likenesses.
## BACKGROUND
Athletes traditionally rely on physical endorsements, broadcasting rights, and personal appearances to generate income outside of their athletic contracts. With the rapid advancement of generative AI, unauthorized deepfakes of sports figures have become widespread in advertising and betting, prompting players to seek legal and commercial countermeasures.