On LawNext: an AI arbitrator? The latest innovations from the American Arbitration Association, with CEO Bridget McCormack and CTO Diana Didia
Almost two years ago, on this podcast, we were discussing the American Arbitration Association innovation initiatives – and in particular its adoption of generative AI – with Bridget Mary McCormackwho became president and CEO in 2023 after serving as chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, and Diane Didiaits director of information and innovation. In today’s episode, McCormack and Didia – now executive vice president and chief technology and innovation officer – return for an update on innovation at AAA.
In this previous podcast, McCormack and Didia spoke at length about AAA’s culture of innovation and their early experiences with Generation AI. At the time, McCormack said that anyone who thinks they know where Generation AI is going, even next week, is wrong. While this may still be true, AAA has certainly taken bold steps in this direction.
Most notably, just days before this episode was recorded, the AAA announced something unprecedented in the world of dispute resolution: an AI-powered referee which he launches in November. This is not just another AI tool to assist lawyers or arbitrators. It is an AI system that will assess the merits of cases, generate recommendations and prepare draft awards – with human arbitrators validating and signing the final decisions before they are rendered.
In today’s conversation with host Bob Ambrogi, McCormack and Didia dive deeper into how this AI arbitrator works, what it means for the future of dispute resolution, and how it fits into AAA’s broader innovation strategy as the organization approaches its 100th anniversary next year. They also explore the cultural transformation within the AAA that enabled these technological advancements and the next steps in their AI-native vision for dispute resolution.
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