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Broad Usage of AI Tools

The survey shows that 93% of respondents are familiar with AI technologies, such as ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Bing Chat. 44% are actively using them for tasks including summarizing texts, writing emails, drafting legal documents and conducting legal research. This high level of engagement demonstrates the growing reliance on AI in judicial systems globally.

Risks Arising from AI Usage in Judicial Processes

Despite the benefits of AI, its use in judicial processes carries significant risks. The survey identities potential abuse of human rights, including privacy, freedom of expression and non-discrimination. Notably, 7 out of 10 of judicial operators recognize the risks of using AI chatbots in legal work, such as inaccuracies and biases. For example, in India and Colombia, judges have used ChatGPT to assist with legal decisions, sparking debates about reliability and ethical consequences. 

In the United States, the Supreme Court has warned against AI in legal proceedings due to issues like AI-generated "hallucinations," which produce false or non-existent case citations. This has led to lawyers filing briefs with fabricated references, jeopardising the integrity of legal processes. Similarly, AI tools in criminal justice have been criticized for prejudices and due process concerns, with Brazil's judiciary facing challenges over predictive analytics tools that perpetuate historical biases.

However, it is important to note that AI can have a positive impact on the judiciary by reducing case backlogs, shortening delays in justice delivery and increasing the availability of judgments in local languages.

Absence of Guidance and Training on AI

There is a significant lack of guidance and training on AI usage is evident, with just 9% of judicial operators reporting that their organizations have issued guidelines or provided AI-related training. 

This gap prevents the responsible and ethical application of AI in legal contexts. Some countries, like New Zealand and the United Kingdom, have established guidelines emphasizing concepts including confidentiality, privacy, bias awareness, accountability, accuracy, and data security.

UNESCO's Response and Development of Guidelines

Respondents strongly support mandatory regulations and training on AI use in judicial activities, with 92% calling for such measures. 

In response, UNESCO is developing Guidelines for the Use of AI Systems in Courts and Tribunals, based on the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI. These guidelines provide a robust framework for ensuring that AI technologies are adopted in alignment with justice, human rights and the rule of law.

The UNESCO survey's findings serve as a wake-up call for legal systems worldwide. Immediate action is needed to develop and implement comprehensive guidelines and training programmes for the responsible and ethical use of AI in the judiciary. 

This initiative builds on UNESCO's existing efforts, which have been training judicial professionals on press freedom for over a decade.

The survey is developed as part of the  funded by the European Commission project on “Supporting Member States in Implementing UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of AI through Innovative Tools”.

For more details, the full survey is available at