Major League Baseball has effectively banned the use of artificial intelligence tools on iPads during games, a move aimed at curbing the use of custom apps for in-game strategy, pitching changes, and defensive substitutions. The league issued a memo on June 11, with the ban taking full effect on Wednesday before teams resumed play after the All-Star break.
Teams had been utilizing custom applications on MLB-issued iPads, pushing the technology beyond its originally intended purpose. According to a commissioner's office memo, these applications were providing recommendations for substitutions, pitch calling, and other in-game decisions that are traditionally made by players and coaches.
Approximately one-third of the league was reportedly using the iPads for purposes that extended beyond their original design, according to The Athletic. However, the league's review found that no teams violated existing rules governing sign stealing or electronic device usage.
The MLB-issued iPads come with three tabs. The first provides MLB-provided Statcast data and various video angles, while the second contains data related to the automated ball-strike system. The third tab was a custom section where teams installed their own applications, and it is this custom tab that is now prohibited.
In addition to the ban on custom AI apps, new rules have been implemented to limit the amount of live information accessible on iPads. In-game video is now available only on a delay, and clubhouses have posted rules prohibiting non-field personnel from entering the dugout. The league's decision ensures that human judgment will guide all strategic decisions during games.