Major League Baseball has implemented a mid-season policy change to prohibit teams from using dugout iPads for AI-powered in-game strategy recommendations. League officials intervened due to concerns that generative AI was being used for decisions traditionally made by players and coaches, such as substitutions and pitch calling.

The directive, delivered via memo from the commissioner's office on June 11, reportedly affected up to a third of MLB teams. However, no clubs will face penalties as all organizations are now compliant with the new rules, which became effective immediately. This move represents a tightening of restrictions on tablet use in the dugout, following a sign-stealing scandal in 2021.

While AI can be beneficial for analyzing vast amounts of data in baseball, MLB officials appear concerned about replacing human intuition and decision-making with algorithmic recommendations. The league aims to prevent potential future forms of cheating and maintain the integrity of in-game strategy.