Formula E is transforming how blind and visually impaired fans experience motorsport by launching a new AI-powered audio reporting service in partnership with Google Cloud. The initiative promises to make the excitement and drama of electric street racing more accessible than ever — especially to fans across the Middle East.
Using advanced generative AI, the new feature delivers rich, descriptive audio summaries of every race in over 15 languages, including Arabic, allowing fans to tune into the energy, strategy, and emotion of the E-Prix in a way that suits their needs.
The project was unveiled at the Google Cloud Summit in London and is being developed in close partnership with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to ensure the service is tailored specifically for those who are blind or partially sighted.
“The thrill of racing should be for everyone,” said Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E. “This innovation helps us connect with fans who previously couldn’t fully experience the action. It’s not just tech — it’s inclusion.”
The move comes after the 2025 Jeddah E-Prix broke viewership records with 65 million global viewers. With fan interest soaring, the organisation is investing in making the sport more inclusive, personal, and accessible to audiences worldwide.
The AI-generated reports, produced within minutes of each race ending, will be published on Spotify and other major audio platforms. They’ll offer race recaps that highlight overtakes, crashes, pit stops, and fan-favourite moments — all crafted into engaging audio storytelling.
Sonali Rai, RNIB’s Media Culture and Immersive Technology Lead, said:
“The combination of natural sound and audio description will let blind fans truly feel the racing environment. It’s immersive, empowering and long overdue.”
The technology was born during a Google Cloud Hackathon at the 2024 London E-Prix and uses Google’s Vertex AI to transcribe, analyse, and narrate race events. Live testing will continue during the upcoming Berlin and London races, with a global launch planned for Season 12.
“It’s like having a race-day narrator who speaks your language and understands your needs,” said John Abel, Managing Director at Google Cloud. “We’re using AI to open doors, not build walls.”
Beyond Formula E, the collaboration is being hailed as a potential model for other global sports — a vision where accessibility is built in, not added on.
As electric racing evolves, so does its commitment to fans — and with this latest innovation, Formula E is making sure no one is left out of the race.
