MLB effectively outlaws use of AI on dugout iPads during games
Major League Baseball Takes Action Against Artificial Intelligence in Dugouts
MLB effectively outlaws use of AI - Baseball has officially drawn a line in the sand regarding technology. Major League Baseball has effectively prohibited teams from utilizing artificial intelligence tools through their dugout iPads during live games. This decision comes after the league observed clubs increasingly relying on AI-powered applications to influence strategic decisions that had traditionally been left to human judgment.
A Growing Trend Among Teams
Several franchises had begun installing custom applications on their league-issued tablets, pushing the boundaries of existing technology guidelines. According to a memo from the commissioner's office that was obtained by Fox News Digital, these iPads were being utilized "beyond their originally intended purpose to include recommendations regarding substitutions, pitch calling and other in-game decisions traditionally made by players and coaches." The practice had become widespread enough that the league felt compelled to act.
The official announcement regarding this policy change was released on June 11. The prohibition took full effect on Wednesday, just before teams returned to action following the All-Star break. The Athletic reported that as many as one-third of all MLB teams had adopted these AI-enhanced practices, making the issue significant enough to warrant league-wide attention.
Understanding the iPad System
To understand the scope of this change, it helps to examine how the MLB-issued iPads function. Each tablet features three distinct tabs. The first tab provides teams with Statcast data supplied by the league along with multiple video angles for review. The second tab displays information connected to the automated ball-strike system. The third tab served as a custom space where individual teams could install their own applications.
It is this third tab that has now been officially prohibited by the league. The restriction targets the artificial intelligence tools that teams had been using to receive real-time recommendations during games. This change ensures that AI-driven insights will no longer play a direct role in in-game decision-making.
Additional Measures to Limit Information Flow
Beyond the AI prohibition, MLB has implemented additional rules designed to reduce the volume of live information entering the dugout. In-game video is now only available on a delay, preventing coaches from receiving instantaneous visual data. Furthermore, posted regulations in every clubhouse prohibit non-field personnel from entering the dugout area during games.
While the exact number of teams utilizing iPads with live, in-game information remains unclear, the league's decision to suspend artificial intelligence usage guarantees that human judgment will once again dominate strategic calls. The Athletic was the first publication to report on these AI restrictions, bringing the story to wider attention.
No Rule Violations Detected
Importantly, the league's comprehensive review of technology usage revealed that no teams had violated existing MLB rules concerning sign stealing or electronic device utilization. The new measures are preventive rather than punitive. As one front office executive told The Athletic, "Gotta stop the cheating before there's cheating now." This sentiment captures the proactive nature of the league's approach.
The decision reflects MLB's commitment to maintaining the integrity of the game while embracing technological advancement in measured ways. By restricting AI tools on dugout iPads, the league ensures that the human element remains central to how games are called and managed.
"Gotta stop the cheating before there's cheating now," one front office executive told The Athletic.
Teams were installing custom apps that pushed the boundaries of the technology guidelines, and the iPads were being used "beyond their originally intended purpose to include recommendations regarding substitutions, pitch calling and other in-game decisions traditionally made by players and coaches," according to a commissioner's office memo obtained by Fox News Digital.