The 2025 International Arbitration Survey – AI and Arbitration

The 2025 International Arbitration Survey, “The path forward: realities and opportunities in arbitration” has recently been published (see Survey here).

In keeping with the theme of the Survey, a key area of focus was on use of artificial intelligence in arbitration. There is an expectation that use of AI is expected to grow over the next 5 years, with a movement towards AI assisting with more complex tasks. Despite this, concerns associated with the deployment of AI tools continue. 

Use of AI in Arbitration and Opportunities 

The information collected from respondents to the Survey suggests that the key use cases for AI in arbitration are oriented around completion of factual and legal research, data analytics and document review. It is expected that these will continue to grow in popularity over the next 5 years. 

Potential areas for growth include the use of AI to assist in drafting and the evaluation of legal arguments. Many respondents were of the view that AI tools are not currently sufficiently developed to complete these more complex, substantive tasks. 

The Survey responses identify that, commercially, AI has the potential to save lawyers time, reduce human error, boost efficiency and reduce costs. A quote referred to from an arbitrator sums up this sentiment well, noting that, “AI can make the whole process of dispute resolution much more economical and faster, assuming that it is done in the proper way”. 

Issues with use of AI tools

The use case for AI does not come without problems. From the responses received, these appear to be oriented around:

• The tendency for AI tools to provide incorrect or unverified information or “hallucinate”;
• Confidentiality issues relating to the use of sensitive material by an AI tool; and
• A lack of knowledge or experience among practitioners as to how AI tools can be used, leading to concerns around unknowing misuse.

These risks, combined with the current deficiencies with AI tools mean that deployment of AI on more sophisticated tasks (such as the evaluation of legal arguments) is still relatively uncommon – a quote referred to in the Survey noted that, “legal arguments are a jungle – AI might make them briefer, but not necessarily better”.

Use of AI by Arbitrators 

Respondents to the Survey generally saw the benefit in AI tools being used by arbitrators in order to realise potential efficiencies, particularly in relation to the completion of procedural or administrative work. However, concern remains about the role of AI tools in relation to tasks requiring the exercise of judgment by the arbitrator. 

Looking to the future

The consensus is that there is enthusiasm for greater use of AI tools; both as they are currently being deployed and in new contexts.

This enthusiasm appears to be met with a requirement for clear frameworks and standard practices relating to the role of AI in arbitration. In that vein, the emergence of guidance from institutions such as the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (see our article  here) is vital to help practitioners and arbitrators navigate a rapidly changing environment. 

For the latest on AI law and regulation, see our blog and newsletter.