The World Cup semi-finals have wrapped, and all eyes are on Argentina and France. The world is waiting for the final face-off between the legendary teams on the 18th of December. However, who will win the world cup is still a question eager to be answered. 

Winner predictions are unavoidable during the world cup season, and this year's predictions largely relied on AI-based analysis. Leading sports data producer OPTA has used AI to predict the winner of the world cup. OPTA had given Brazil a 16.3% chance of winning the cup. According to the numbers, Neymar, Vinicius Junior and their teammates had an 88.5% chance of reaching the knockout stages and a 25.7% chance of reaching the final.   

As one might have known, this AI prediction was false. Neymar broke the tie in the 106th minute, and Croatia's Bruno Petkovic responded by finding the back of the net for the equalizer in the 117th minute. Finally, Brazil lost to Croatia with a score of 4-2 during the penalty kicks.  

As it turns out, OPTA was one of many AIs that made the prediction. A supercomputer has picked Argentina to win the 2022 world cup. Similarly, the AI model from UK's national AI facility, the Alan Turing Institute, placed Argentina third in line to lift the cup.

Not the first time 

AI predictions have turned out to be untrue before. In 2018, a host of companies put their AI up for public test to identify whose algorithms could predict the winners of the FIFA world cup. 

In nearly every simulation, Spain, Germany, and Brazil emerged as the favorites. Researchers at the Technical University of Dortmunch, Germany, gave the edge to Germany (64%) over Brazil (36%). Goldman Sachs disagreed, giving Brazil the edge of 1.71 goals to Germany's 1.40 goals.  

Despite the world's biggest companies and brightest analysts, the AI predictions had failed. 

AI cannot see the future 

As much as world cup predictions are exciting, these AI predictions are based on a massive amount of data. Data is derived from previous world cups and the initial games in this year's world cup. Therefore, the AI-created odds for each team will always change during games throughout the tournament as every goal scored will switch the possible route other teams could take to the final. 

In simple terms, if a team or a player showcase better than they used to or a high-performing team fail to meet expectations, then the data can change, and so will the predictions. Also, unlike portrayed in many Sci-Fi movies, AI does not hold the superpower to foresee the future. Instead, its results rely on the data inputted. 

World cup predictions are rousing. Although the audience will have to wait and watch to know the real winner. This year's world cup finals will provide better clarity on the reliability of the AI predictions. If Leo Messy and his pack grab the trophy, the world can confirm that AI's calculations are partially accurate.