Looking at the America's Cup boats, you can't help but notice how futuristic they appear. But this year, Emirates Team New Zealand had a competitive edge, when they enlisted a new crew member to hyper-boost their boat design process: AI. The 2021 race officially began on March 10, when boats hit the water, but the real competition started three years earlier, when the new Class Rule was released. With each America's Cup, the Class Rule defines the parameters for yacht design -- and design can mean the difference between winning and losing. Once the rule is released, it becomes a race to design and build the fastest possible America's Cup boats.

Team NZ intern Juan Perdomo proved invaluable to the Kiwi America's Cup campaign. Team New Zealand used an artificial intelligence agent to help set up their stunning America's Cup victory. The genius innovations behind the successful Kiwi campaign in Bermuda continue to emerge four months after they blitzed the challenger series and defenders Oracle Team USA to win back the Auld Mug. Stuck in New Zealand and short on money and time to build a second test boat to engage their cycle-powered AC50, the Kiwis went to the computers to find a "virtual" rival to train against. By the time Emirates Team New Zealand lined out against Oracle Team USA for the America's Cup match, helmsman Peter Burling was well schooled in tactics thanks to battling an artificial intelligence agent. The AI was crucial to getting Cup rookie Peter Burling up to speed with starting manoeuvres and tactics in the lightning-fast foiling catamarans.