Supreme Court chief justice report urges caution on use of AI ahead of contentious election year
In the wake of a contentious election year, the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court has released a report warning of the potential threats posed by AI and other emerging technologies.
The report, titled “Artificial Intelligence and the Courts,” urges judges and legal professionals to exercise caution when using AI in their decision-making processes. “The use of artificial intelligence in decision-making raises a variety of questions concerning accuracy, fairness, and local control,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the report.
The report also highlighted the potential pitfalls of relying on AI in a highly politicized environment. It notes that biased algorithms and incomplete data could lead to decisions in favor of one side of an issue, and that data collected by the judicial system could be vulnerable to manipulation.
The report concluded by offering four principles for courts and legal professionals to guide them in the use of AI. These include recognizing the potential benefits of AI while recognizing the potential harms of its use, observing ethical and legal standards, seeking input from experts, and establishing additional safeguards to oversee its use.
By underscoring the potential consequences of relying on AI in a highly charged political climate, the Chief Justice’s report could serve as a useful guide to judges and legal professionals navigating complex societal issues in the run-up to the 2020 election.