MLB Bans Use of AI on Dugout iPads During Games

Major League Baseball (MLB) has prohibited the use of iPads during games to access artificial intelligence tools for in-game strategy decisions. According to a memo from the commissioner's office, teams had been using custom apps that exceeded the intended use of the iPads, which included recommendations on substitutions and pitch calling. The memo was issued on June 11, and the ban took effect on July 16, after the All-Star break. Reports indicate that approximately one-third of MLB teams were utilizing the iPads for purposes outside their intended use. The league's review found that no teams violated existing rules regarding sign stealing and electronic device usage. The iPads are equipped with three tabs: one for MLB-provided Statcast data, another for automated ball-strike system data, and a third for custom apps, which is now banned. The league has also implemented rules to limit the amount of live information available on iPads, ensuring that human decision-making remains central to gameplay.