MLS Publishes AI-Generated Match Recaps Without Editorial Review
Major League Soccer faced criticism yesterday after publishing automated, artificial intelligence-generated match recaps on its website without human oversight, a move signaling a growing trend of AI implementation in sports journalism.
The league began using AI to produce standard game summaries, and notably included a disclaimer on two recaps – from matches between Orlando City and Vancouver Whitecaps, and Inter Miami and Atlanta United – stating: “This story was automatically generated based on match data. Content has not been reviewed by editorial staff.” Critics pointed to the recaps’ lack of depth and context, arguing they offered little beyond information readily available in box scores. The league is currently soliciting feedback from readers on the AI-generated content via an online form.
An MLS spokesperson stated the initial rollout this past weekend was a “dry run,” and that any future large-scale implementation of the technology would include human review prior to publication. This incident follows similar controversies involving AI-generated content in other sports organizations, including the WTA, which faced backlash for using AI-generated player images, and ESPN, which was criticized for errors in its AI-written recaps. The increasing use of AI in content creation raises concerns about the future of sports journalism jobs.
Several industry figures voiced their disapproval, with MLS insider Tom Bogert stating on social media, “This sucks. A lot.” He added, “I know from my own experience doing it— it is NOT expensive to pay humans to do this.” The league has indicated it will continue to monitor the program and gather feedback as it explores the potential of AI in its content strategy.
