Innovative Partnership Lets Fans Interact Directly With AI Versions of Players

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 5, 2026 — Genies, the AI avatar firm building the future of interactive digital identity, has formed a significant partnership with MLB Players, Inc., the commercial division of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). This alliance will develop AI characters based on the sport’s top athletes, animating them via interactive companion experiences to enable fans to forge unprecedented relationships with their favorite players.

Designed to honor baseball’s history while advancing the frontier of fan interaction, this partnership signifies a fundamental change in how athlete intellectual property is utilized digitally. As fans desire more meaningful bonds with athletes outside of live games, AI-driven interactive companions offer fresh channels for connection that operate year-round across various digital platforms, converting passive spectatorship into dynamic digital engagement.

Genies will utilize its proprietary technology to automatically produce interactive avatars that reflect player personalities. This method turns passive fan interactions into active relationships, enabling fans to connect with AI representations of players on diverse digital channels.

“This partnership represents a pivotal shift in the way fans will interact with and experience Major League Baseball players,” stated Akash Nigam, CEO and Founder of Genies. “Our technology uniquely enables us to animate a broad range of intellectual property as interactive, personified characters on an unprecedented scale. We are establishing pathways for countless fans to develop bonds with the athletes they look up to, moving beyond the constraints of conventional media and non-interactive content.”

“Modern players are influential cultural figures, commanding an expanding global following,” said Evan Kaplan, President of MLB Players, Inc. “This project is a central element of our comprehensive plan to engage fans globally with cutting-edge digital experiences that maintain player genuineness while opening up new engagement possibilities. We are thrilled to partner with Genies on this innovative venture that will enable fans to communicate with their preferred players in completely novel methods.”

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Genies
Genies is an AI avatar technology company that provides the visual and embodiment layer for Large Language Models. Using its proprietary technology stack, Genies gives personality to AI chat, games, and app experiences via its SDKs. Genies has secured $200M in funding from investors including Silverlake, Bond, and Bob Iger.

MLB Players Inc.
MLB Players, Inc. is the commercial division of the Major League Baseball Players Association. The MLBPA acts as the collective bargaining representative for all professional baseball players on the 30 Major League Baseball teams. MLB Players, Inc. functions as the exclusive licensing agent for all commercial interests and licensing ventures related to active Major League and Minor League Baseball players. Follow @MLBPA on and .

Press Contacts:

Luca Sesti, Genies,
Kevin Slack, MLBPA,

SOURCE Genies