MLB BANS AI STRATEGY USE ON DUGOUT IPADS

The ban, outlined in a memo to franchises, targets the growing practice of teams consulting AI systems during games to inform tactical decisions. Sources indicate the policy has generated frustration among front offices that had adopted the technology. Major League Baseball has not publicly detailed the rationale behind the restriction, though the move reflects broader scrutiny around AI integration in professional sports. The league maintains control over dugout iPad usage, which teams rely on for accessing official MLB systems and communications. The disclosure reveals how rapidly AI adoption had progressed in baseball operations, with over a third of the league's 30 teams incorporating generative AI into real-time strategic planning. The ban represents one of the first explicit restrictions on AI use in professional baseball decision-making. It remains unclear whether the prohibition extends to AI use on personal devices or applies only to league-controlled equipment. MLB has not issued additional public guidance on compliance measures or enforcement.