“AI systems will not replace mediators, but they will replace the mediators who do not engage with AI.” —Susan Guthrie, mediator

While artificial intelligence (AI) has expanded rapidly the world over, the domestic legal field has been notably slow to adapt. In a profession governed by rigid procedural rules, big stakes and high expectations, it is understandable that the profession has hesitated to integrate these tools into practice. The apparent flexibility offered by alternative dispute resolution (ADR) proceedings could make it an appropriate forum for experimentation with AI as part of the dispute resolution process. Jurisdictions around the world are already finding success using AI to resolve legal disputes. With increasing pressures to maximize efficiencies and minimize costs, it’s only a matter of time before the legal field steps into the future and leverages these technologies in the dispute resolution context.