NEW YORK — Major League Baseball is restricting iPad usage in dugouts to prevent the tablets from running artificial intelligence to help make decisions.<\/p>\n
The tablets have access to video and league-provided data, and also included a custom tab where teams could access other programs. MLB made the custom tabs inaccessible to teams starting Wednesday night, when the second half of the season started. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn many cases, the custom tab had expanded the use of the dugout iPads beyond their originally intended purpose to include recommendations regarding substitutions, pitch calling, and other in-game decisions traditionally made by players and coaches,” MLB executive vice president of baseball operations Morgan Sword wrote in a June 11 memo to general managers, assistant GMs and video coordinators.<\/p>\n
The memo, first reported by The Athletic, was obtained by The Associated Press.<\/p>\n
A review by the competition committee found clubs had been compliant with the regulations.<\/p>\n
\u201cInstituting this prohibition beginning with the second half of the season is intended to provide clubs that have relied on the custom tab with appropriate lead-time to make any necessary adjustments,” Sword wrote.<\/p>\n
MLB started a pilot program allowing use of iPads in dugouts with restrictions late in the 2015 season<\/a> and expanded their use in 2016<\/a> under a deal with Apple. Video was eliminated in the 2020 COVID season following the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, then returned in 2021<\/a>.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n