MLB restricts using dugout iPads for AI-assisted in-game strategy

Major League Baseball is changing the rules for dugout technology. Starting with the second half of the 2026 season, teams can no longer use custom tabs on dugout iPads. The league implemented this restriction to stop the use of artificial intelligence for in-game decision-making.

Executive vice president of baseball operations Morgan Sword noted in a memo to teams that these tablets were originally intended for accessing video and league-provided data. However, some clubs started using custom software to get real-time recommendations for pitch calling and substitutions. This effectively outsourced decisions that have historically belonged to managers, coaches, and players to algorithms.

MLB initiated this change to preserve the human element of game strategy. The league wants to ensure that critical tactical choices remain in the hands of the people on the field rather than automated tools. Teams received notice of the change in mid-June to allow them time to adjust their internal processes before the restriction took effect.

This move marks another chapter in the league's ongoing relationship with technology. iPads first entered the dugout in 2015 as a limited trial before becoming a standard part of the game in 2016. Video access was briefly removed in 2020 following the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal but was later restored in 2021. This latest mandate indicates that while data remains vital, the league is drawing a firm line against AI-driven coaching at the professional level.