“MLS is constantly, every year, looking at ways that we could incentivize our teams to use their resources better, to be very, very productive and efficient,” the MLS commissioner, Don Garber, said last year about how the league is constantly looking to get better. Along with that, Garber also underscored that giving the fans a memorable experience was part of the MLS‘s bigger goal. However, the latest usage of the “resources” available doesn’t seem to sit right with the fans.

There’s no denying it: The entire world is leaning on AI. From engineering to medicine to rocket science and agriculture, virtually every human domain is using the benefits of artificial intelligence to benefit our species in some way or another. However, sometimes, adopting AI might not be the right move, especially considering the fans’ sentiments on the matter. And that’s exactly what seems to be the reason behind the MLS getting bashed by the soccer community right now.

In a post on X from October 12, Zito shared how the MLS used AI to summarize the highlights of the Saturday match between Inter Miami CF and Atlanta United FC (which the Herons won 4-0). The attached screenshot shows how “MLS Generative AI” is aiding the league with its match content so that the fans can be kept up to speed on all the matches. Rightfully, Zito was pretty displeased by the MLS opting to cut loose the human connection from its match reports.

“Not only does the language feel dead but it’s funny that the staff doesn’t even review the article,” vents the caption of the social media post from Sunday. For the most part, the fans agreed to the built-up frustration. The annoyance wasn’t misplaced. Other professional leagues like the NBA and NFL continue to use human writers for their match reports. Naturally, the MLS opting to transition to AI wasn’t something soccer fans were prepared for.

Those who are familiar with artificial intelligence know well that regurgitating facts falls within the scope of the technology. However, the “human touch” is something that shouldn’t be expected from AI’s works. Obviously, Zito’s X post struck a chord with the MLS fans. USMNT insider Tom Bogert also shared the match report of the Orlando City vs Vancouver Whitecaps game from Saturday and noted his agitation. “This sucks. A lot,” Bogert grumbled, “I know from my own experience doing it— it is NOT expensive to pay humans to do this,” highlighting why deviating from the norm isn’t always the right thing to do. The fans were in agreement.

“AI can look at stats, but it has no idea about sport,” one fan also grumbled about how the MLS’s report felt bland and off-putting. Others also felt the same.

Fans aren’t on board with the MLS’s decision

One fan thought that it would be only a matter of time before the MLS went from being too lazy to use real writers for its match reports to using AI to cover live games. “Just wait until we get AI generated commentary for games. No more broadcaster,” the fan shared their opinion on what could be on the table. “Coming to commentary soon“, another fan noted their skepticism. For those sports fans who find live broadcasts one of the most enticing aspects of the game, the threat is real!

The MLS has been gaining a lot of traction in recent years. With soccer slowly finding a bigger footing in the country, the league and the sport have become more popular than ever. Moreover, the collaboration between Apple TV and the MLS is changing the country’s soccer landscape in ways previously unimaginable. But the use of AI could be detrimental to that, fans think. “MLS doing everything in their power to eliminate any progression of the sport,” one fan laid out the bottom line.

“AI is a support tool not a replacement tool,” another fan, like many others, just wasn’t feeling how the MLS is trying to make its work easier at the expense of human connection. How do you feel about the matter? Weigh in on the debate!