Major League Baseball (MLB) has effectively outlawed the use of artificial intelligence (AI) on dugout iPads during games to influence in-game strategy. The league issued a memo on June 11, 2026, announcing the ban, which went into full effect on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, just before teams resumed play following the All-Star break.

According to a commissioner’s office memo obtained by Fox News Digital, teams had been installing custom apps on MLB-issued iPads that pushed the boundaries of technology guidelines. These devices were being used "beyond their originally intended purpose to include recommendations regarding substitutions, pitch calling, and other in-game decisions traditionally made by players and coaches."

The iPads provided by MLB feature three tabs: one with MLB-provided Statcast data and multiple video angles, a second with data related to the automated ball-strike (ABS) system, and a third custom tab where teams installed their own apps.

A report from The Athletic indicated that as many as one-third of the league’s teams were using the iPads for purposes beyond their intended use. Despite this, the league’s review found that no teams violated MLB’s rules governing sign stealing and electronic-device usage.

One front office executive told The Athletic, "Gotta stop the cheating before there’s cheating now," highlighting concerns about maintaining fair play.

Images from Getty Images and Icon Sportswire show players such as Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge using iPads during games at venues including Yankee Stadium and Angel Stadium earlier in the 2026 season.

Sources