"We Need to Stop It Before Cheating Occurs"... MLB Completely Bans AI in Dugouts

AI Sparks Controversy by Advising Pitch and Substitution Choices
One-third of MLB Clubs Used Tablets in Dugouts
Technology Used for Calls, but Strategic Decisions Remain Human

As artificial intelligence (AI) encroaches upon areas traditionally reserved for human judgment, Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States has stepped in to put on the brakes. MLB has decided to fully prohibit clubs from receiving AI-generated recommendations for decisions such as pitching or player substitutions from the dugout during games—a practice that had begun to spread.

The view of the MLB All-Star audience stands held in Philadelphia, USA, on the 14th (local time). Photo by AP Yonhap News

According to a report from Yonhap News on July 16 (local time), citing the U.S. online sports outlet The Athletic, the MLB office has decided to block the use of AI technology through tablet PCs (iPad) during games. The Athletic obtained a memo from the MLB office revealing that several clubs had installed customized applications on their tablets to obtain AI-driven advice not only within the originally permitted scope of tablet use but also for decisions traditionally made by players and coaches, such as pitching choices and lineup changes.

Mets Used AI for Pitching Selection... One-third of All 30 Clubs Used Tablets

The spark for this action was reportedly ignited by the New York Mets. Adam Ottavino, a pitcher who played for the Mets from 2022 to 2024, recently claimed that the Mets' use of technology triggered the regulatory response, asserting, "The Mets were the main target of the regulations." He added, "They used an expensive AI program to help choose pitches and boasted openly about it early in the season." According to the MLB office, about one-third of the 30 clubs were reportedly using tablet PCs in this manner. As a result, last month on the 11th, the league office issued a one-month grace period to all clubs and then prohibited their use outright from the second half of the season.

Reactions to MLB's measure were mixed among the clubs. Some front offices, which prioritize innovation, expressed strong opposition. A senior research and development (R&D) official from one club told The Athletic that "the measure has caused considerable repercussions." Conversely, another club official stated, "This needs to be blocked before any real cheating scandals happen."

That does not mean MLB is entirely rejecting technology. This season, it introduced the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) System Challenge in the regular season, where computers review ball-strike calls. However, the league’s position appears to be that strategic decisions made by managers and players should remain in human hands. Meanwhile, in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) League, it is already forbidden to bring electronic devices into the dugout, and only league-issued tablets for ABS review are provided to each team, mirroring MLB's approach.

On the 19th (local time), the Formula One (F1) Belgian Grand Prix race scene. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

F1 Initiates Aggressive Adoption of AI... Everyday Use During Races

The debate over how far to allow AI access is not limited to a single sport. However, some disciplines are drawing the line much further. The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), which governs Formula One (F1), is actively advancing AI adoption to aid race stewards’ judgments during competitions. At present, AI-powered tools are already used in the Remote Operations Center (ROC) to automatically detect clear rule violations, such as track departures, while only more nuanced cases are flagged for human review.

The use of AI during races has also become routine at the team level in F1. The amount of data generated by a single car over a race weekend reaches several hundred gigabytes, and AI is tasked with monitoring areas that are difficult for humans to process in real time, such as tire degradation or brake imbalance. Some teams reportedly use generative AI to search through hundreds of pages of FIA regulations in seconds, identifying possible loopholes for strategic gain. Nevertheless, the final analysis and adjustments still rest with humans.

The FIA plans to introduce phased regulations starting in 2027 to ensure that human engineers retain leadership over vehicle development. Edward Green, McLaren’s Chief Commercial Technology Officer, emphasized, "AI is not meant to replace anyone. The aim is to support data scientists and engineers and enrich their decision-making."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.