Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

An Intel drone got the assist on a vicious dunk at the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest

Orlando’s Aaron Gordon used a drone to pass him the ball, and it worked out okay.

Verizon Slam Dunk Contest 2017
Verizon Slam Dunk Contest 2017
Gerald Herbert - Pool/Getty Images

And the assist goes to ... Intel?

A remote-controlled drone made an appearance at the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday when it assisted on a dunk by the Orlando Magic’s Aaron Gordon.

The drone, which was “powered by Intel,” dropped the ball from about 12 feet. It bounced off the hardwood, and Gordon went between the legs before stuffing it through the rim. (It was impressive, but Gordon still took last place in the contest.)

Apparently Gordon’s mom is an Intel employee.

The move was obviously a gimmick, and was played up by the announcers. Gordon even “drove” the drone down from the rafters using a big controller.

But it’s also another sign of drone technology pushing its way into the mainstream. At Lady Gaga’s halftime performance for the Super Bowl, hundreds of drones were used to look like stars in the night sky above the stadium. Drone racing even aired on ESPN back in August, the first time the sport was televised by a major media company.

Here’s the dunk:


This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

More in Technology

Technology
The case for AI realismThe case for AI realism
Technology

AI isn’t going to be the end of the world — no matter what this documentary sometimes argues.

By Shayna Korol
Politics
OpenAI’s oddly socialist, wildly hypocritical new economic agendaOpenAI’s oddly socialist, wildly hypocritical new economic agenda
Politics

The AI company released a set of highly progressive policy ideas. There’s just one small problem.

By Eric Levitz
Future Perfect
Human bodies aren’t ready to travel to Mars. Space medicine can help.Human bodies aren’t ready to travel to Mars. Space medicine can help.
Future Perfect

Protecting astronauts in space — and maybe even Mars — will help transform health on Earth.

By Shayna Korol
Podcasts
The importance of space toilets, explainedThe importance of space toilets, explained
Podcast
Podcasts

Houston, we have a plumbing problem.

By Peter Balonon-Rosen and Sean Rameswaram
Technology
What happened when they installed ChatGPT on a nuclear supercomputerWhat happened when they installed ChatGPT on a nuclear supercomputer
Technology

How they’re using AI at the lab that created the atom bomb.

By Joshua Keating
Future Perfect
Humanity’s return to the moon is a deeply religious missionHumanity’s return to the moon is a deeply religious mission
Future Perfect

Space barons like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk don’t seem religious. But their quest to colonize outer space is.

By Sigal Samuel