Well, it was just a matter of time. Artificial intelligence is now causing issues in a major sport. Major League Baseball has now outlawed the practice of using league-provided dugout iPads to access generative artificial intelligence.
MLB teams have been relying on this type of artificial intelligence to help form in-game strategy. Which, if you think about it, is akin to having another coach – a really, really smart coach – in the dugout, only without, you know, the body.
According to a commissioner’s office memo that The Athletic was able to obtain, teams have “in many cases” been installing custom apps that alter the use of the iPads “beyond their originally intended purpose to include recommendations regarding substitutions, pitch calling, and other in-game decisions traditionally made by players and coaches.”
“In many cases” is up to one-third of the league, according to people with knowledge of the technology who spoke to The Athletic on the condition of anonymity.
The ban reportedly took effect on Wednesday, a little over a month after MLB officials issued the memo. So, going forward, the iPads cannot use artificial intelligence to make recommendations for things like pitch selection, substitutions, determining the next pitch to be thrown by an opponent, and other in-game strategies.
Naturally, some teams aren’t happy about it. Others, however, understand the need to reign in the use of this type of technology.
“Gotta stop the cheating before there’s cheating now,” one front office executive said.