Lisbon: Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo surprised fans and industry watchers alike by revealing that he turned to artificial intelligence for help in preparing his acceptance speech for the Globe Prestige Award at the Portugal Football Globes ceremony held on Tuesday.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, known for his meticulous preparation both on and off the pitch, said that he used the AI chatbot Perplexity to organise his thoughts and structure his remarks ahead of the prestigious event.

Ronaldo credits AI for helping shape his speech

In a light-hearted moment during his acceptance speech, Ronaldo shared how technology played an unexpected role in his preparation. “This afternoon I sat at the table thinking about what I would say in this speech,” he said. “I said to myself: ‘What is the Prestige Globe Award? Is it a career-ending award?’ I felt a bit nervous and said: ‘It can’t be that.’ Then I did some research on Perplexity—if you don’t know it, look it up later—and it helped me a little.”

The crowd responded with laughter and applause, reflecting both admiration for the star’s humility and curiosity about his use of AI assistance.

Perplexity later confirmed Ronaldo’s use of its platform by sharing a clip of the moment on X (formerly Twitter), captioned: “Cristiano Ronaldo used Perplexity to prepare his Prestige Globe Award speech.” The post quickly went viral, drawing attention from both football fans and technology enthusiasts worldwide.

A new blend of sports and technology

Ronaldo’s admission marks one of the most high-profile examples of a global sports icon openly using AI tools for personal communication. Known for embracing innovation in fitness and performance analytics, the Portuguese forward appears to be extending that openness to emerging digital technologies.

Experts say this reflects a growing trend among celebrities, athletes, and professionals turning to AI platforms to enhance creativity, manage content, and improve communication. “What Ronaldo did is symbolic of how AI is becoming mainstream, even among figures who traditionally rely on personal intuition,” said Miguel Duarte, a Lisbon-based sports media analyst. “It’s a subtle nod to how artificial intelligence can augment—not replace—human authenticity.”

The rise of Perplexity in public use

Founded in 2022, Perplexity AI has rapidly gained traction as an intelligent search and conversational assistant. It combines traditional search functions with natural language processing, allowing users to find, summarise, and synthesise information more interactively.

While AI tools such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini have dominated headlines, Perplexity has carved out a niche for offering concise, research-oriented responses. Ronaldo’s public mention has given the platform a major visibility boost, with searches for “Perplexity AI” reportedly surging within hours of the event.

Industry observers believe this endorsement could mark a turning point in how AI chatbots are perceived by the general public. “When someone of Ronaldo’s stature references a specific AI tool, it normalises the technology for millions of fans,” said Duarte. “It may inspire people to explore how AI can assist them in their own daily tasks.”

Fan reactions and social media buzz

Social media lit up soon after the event, with fans expressing a mix of surprise, amusement, and admiration. Some praised Ronaldo for staying technologically updated, while others joked that even his speeches now have the “AI touch.”

One user wrote on X, “Cristiano Ronaldo using AI to write his speech—proof that he’s always one step ahead.” Another quipped, “Even Perplexity is getting assists from Ronaldo now.”

The clip shared by Perplexity has since garnered millions of views and thousands of interactions, underscoring the global interest in both Ronaldo’s influence and AI’s growing role in everyday life.

A glimpse into the future of communication

While Ronaldo’s speech may have been brief, his mention of using AI has opened a broader conversation about the integration of artificial intelligence into professional and creative settings. From students and executives to athletes and entertainers, many are increasingly turning to AI to draft, refine, and deliver messages more effectively.

In the context of sports, where public speaking and media interactions are frequent, tools like Perplexity could serve as valuable assistants. However, experts also caution that authenticity must remain at the forefront. “AI can help structure ideas,” said Duarte, “but the emotion and personality must always come from the speaker.”

Conclusion

Cristiano Ronaldo’s candid revelation at the Portugal Football Globes shows that even the most accomplished individuals are open to leveraging new technologies to improve themselves. By using AI to prepare his speech, Ronaldo has not only highlighted the growing practicality of tools like Perplexity but also demonstrated how technology and human creativity can coexist harmoniously.

For fans, it was yet another reminder that innovation—much like Ronaldo himself—never stops evolving.