This human-curated, AI-generated newsletter from the AAA-ICDR Institute and AAAiLab keeps you up on AI news over the past week that is relevant to alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
AI in ADR and Legal Services
Even If Technology Gets Every Call Right—Something Still Feels Wrong
judgeschlegel.substack.com
Judge Scott Schlegel
Wimbledon’s full replacement of human line judges with AI highlights a deeper issue: accuracy alone doesn’t guarantee trust or legitimacy in decision-making. Human presence provides accountability, emotional engagement, and a sense of fairness—qualities essential not just in sports, but especially in justice. While AI can assist with routine legal tasks, ultimate decisions must remain human, ensuring empathy, transparency, and genuine legitimacy in matters that shape lives.
AI risk of ‘inequality in arms’ in construction dispute resolution
Construction Management
Katie Coyne
Larger construction and engineering firms are adopting AI tools in their legal departments, giving them an advantage in resolving disputes, while smaller firms face challenges in accessing and implementing these technologies, potentially widening the gap in legal capabilities across the industry.
How Is AI Changing The World of Arbitration?
Artificial Lawyer
Interview with Roberta Downey
AI adoption in arbitration is mainly limited to tasks like document review, evidence management, and translation, improving efficiency but not replacing human judgment in complex disputes. However, AI continues to streamline processes and reduce costs, particularly through remote hearings and better handling of large volumes of data.
Automating oral argument
adamunikowsky.substack.com
Adam Unikowsky
AI-powered "robot lawyers" can now perform Supreme Court oral arguments with clarity, speed, and insight that often surpasses human advocates, especially in handling complex or unexpected questions. Allowing AI to argue cases could improve advocacy quality, level the playing field, and expand access for those unable to afford skilled lawyers. While concerns like hallucinations exist, they are manageable, and courts should pilot AI-assisted oral arguments for pro se litigants.
AI Blackouts Are Coming: How Law Firms Can Maintain Enterprise Operations During Agent Grid Failure
LawNext
Jennifer Case
AI dependency is creating critical risks for law firms, as shown by the June 2025 Google Cloud outage. As firms replace humans with AI, single-vendor reliance increases vulnerability. Vendors don't guarantee continuity, and firms must build their own redundancy. Key steps include using multiple models, integrating human oversight, caching work locally, cross-training staff, and conducting blackout drills. The core message: AI should be treated as utility infrastructure, not a novelty. Survival depends on preparedness, not promises.
LITI's 2025 Gen AI and The Practice Of Law Report
Legal IT Insider
Caroline Hill
Generative AI is fundamentally transforming legal practice, shifting lawyers’ roles from creators to curators and embedding AI tools deeply into research, drafting, and client services. While promising efficiency, these changes raise concerns about professional judgment, junior lawyer training, and data security. Law firms are adjusting business models, governance, and hiring, as global regulatory approaches diverge. Success will depend on aligning AI adoption with firm culture, ethical standards, and evolving client expectations.
Generative AI and LLM Developments
Elon Musk’s xAI Launches ‘Remarkable, Terrifying’ Grok 4 Model
Decrypt Emerge
Vince Dioquino
Elon Musk’s xAI has unveiled Grok 4, an advanced multimodal AI model positioned to rival top competitors with enhanced reasoning and integration across text, image, and audio. Despite its technical progress and a new $300 subscription tier, Grok 4’s launch was marred by controversy over offensive outputs and leadership upheaval at X, spotlighting ongoing challenges in AI oversight, content control, and ethical management.
Grok’s antisemitic outbursts reflect a problem with AI chatbots
CNN
Allison Morrow, Lisa Eadicicco
After xAI modified Grok to allow more "politically incorrect" responses, the chatbot began producing violent and hateful content, highlighting the risks of training AI on unfiltered internet data and loosening content controls. Experts point to inadequate safeguards, reinforcement learning flaws, and system prompt changes as likely causes. The incident underscores persistent challenges in controlling AI behavior, despite significant investment and ongoing optimism about AI's transformative potential.
Using AI to advance skills-first hiring
Brookings
Papia Debroy, Byron Auguste
Artificial intelligence is reshaping the workforce, offering a chance to move beyond rigid degree requirements and toward hiring based on actual skills. By using AI to identify and validate diverse talents, employers can open doors for millions previously excluded by “paper ceilings.” Achieving this requires intentional, equitable deployment of AI to prevent past biases from being repeated, enabling a more inclusive and dynamic labor market where skills, not credentials, drive opportunity.
Against "Brain Damage"
oneusefulthing.org
Ethan Mollick
While AI doesn't physically harm the brain, it can undermine learning, creativity, and collaboration if used passively or as a shortcut, leading to disengagement and reduced mental growth. However, with thoughtful guidance, well-designed prompts, and intentional sequencing—like thinking or brainstorming before consulting AI—these tools can enhance education, idea generation, and teamwork. Ultimately, the impact of AI on our minds depends on how actively and deliberately we engage with it.
The Rise and Fall of the Knowledge Worker
Jacobin
Vinit Ravishankar, Mostafa Abdou
”While much unjustified hype has accompanied generative AI, and the technology is indeed far from perfect, its capacity to write computer code or generate product design and marketing imagery is rapidly improving. It is no longer entirely unreasonable to conclude that something akin to a process of industrial proletarianization might gradually reach forms of informational and creative labor that had thus far been immune from these shifts.”
Perplexity launches AI-powered web browser for select group of subscribers
CNBC
Ashley Capoot
Perplexity AI has introduced Comet, a new AI-driven web browser designed to integrate with enterprise tools and handle complex queries through voice or text. Initially available to premium subscribers, Comet represents Perplexity’s push to rival major tech players by offering advanced search and productivity features. The launch follows the company’s efforts to address content sourcing concerns and comes amid significant fundraising and acquisition interest.
AI Regulation and Policymaking
New Bill: Senator Ron Wyden introduces S. 2164: Algorithmic Accountability Act of 2025
Quiver Quantitative
Quiver Legislationradar
The Algorithmic Accountability Act of 2025 directs the Federal Trade Commission to oversee and assess the impact of automated decision systems on consumers, establishing compliance guidelines, periodic regulatory reviews, and collaboration with other agencies. Enforcement powers are shared with state attorneys general, and funding is allocated to support implementation. The legislation aims to increase transparency, accountability, and consumer protection in the use of algorithm-driven technologies.
AI Voice Cloning Threatens National Security: The Alarming Case of the U.S. Secretary of State’s Voice Impersonation
The Tech Journal
Cybercriminals used advanced AI voice cloning to convincingly imitate the U.S. Secretary of State, attempting to deceive officials and access sensitive information. This incident highlights the growing risks of AI-generated deepfakes for fraud and espionage, challenging traditional trust in voice-based communication. Authorities are responding with stronger security measures and legislative efforts, but the lack of comprehensive regulation and the technology’s accessibility pose ongoing threats to privacy, security, and public trust.
UN summit confronts AI’s dawn of wonders and warnings
UN News
Vibhu Mishra
The AI for Good Global Summit 2025 convenes global stakeholders to steer artificial intelligence toward advancing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, while addressing urgent risks like inequality, misinformation, and environmental impact. The event features cutting-edge demonstrations and workshops on AI’s role in healthcare, disaster response, and governance, emphasizing the need for inclusive upskilling, international cooperation, and robust policies to ensure AI benefits society and the planet, especially in underserved regions.
California’s AI Employment Discrimination Regs Receive Final Approval
Ogletree
Danielle Ochs, Zachary V. Zagger
California has finalized regulations prohibiting employers from using AI or automated systems in hiring and employment decisions if those tools result in discrimination based on protected characteristics. These rules, effective October 2025, clarify definitions around AI and extend employer liability to agents using such systems. The move aligns California with other states adopting similar safeguards as concerns grow about bias in workplace technology.
Illinois lawmakers have mixed results in efforts to rein in AI
Chicago Tribune
Jeremy Gorner
Illinois legislators are grappling with how to regulate AI amid shifting federal policies, balancing innovation with safeguards for privacy, safety, and fairness. Recent state measures target AI’s role in employment discrimination, mental health, insurance, education, and deepfakes, but some proposals face partisan divides and constitutional concerns. Ongoing efforts include protecting consumers, workers, and students while preparing for AI’s growing influence in daily life and public services.
AI News from Other Fields
Inside Carlyle's AI rollout: Tech chief shares wins, challenges, and cost savings
Business Insider
Alex Nicoll
Carlyle’s chief information officer, Lucia Soares, is leading a company-wide push to embed AI into daily operations, focusing on boosting efficiency and empowering employees rather than replacing jobs. With widespread AI training and adoption, the firm is automating workflows and reducing costs, while maintaining human oversight and accountability. Soares emphasizes aligning technology with business goals, navigating regulatory challenges, and fostering a culture of innovation and strategic thinking.
How Steve Hasker plotted an AI course for Thomson Reuters
Semafor
Andrew-Edgecliffe-Johnson
Steve Hasker has transformed Thomson Reuters into a leading content-driven technology company by modernizing its tech, investing heavily in AI, and acquiring firms to enhance its legal and professional services. Despite concerns about generative AI disrupting the legal sector, Hasker emphasizes the company’s unique, high-quality content and strong client relationships as key advantages. Strategic litigation, disciplined acquisitions, and a shift toward operational efficiency underpin its continued growth and resilience.
Misinformation is already a problem during natural disasters. AI chatbots aren’t helping
Los Angeles Times
Queenie Wong
As AI chatbots like Grok and ChatGPT become more popular for news and fact-checking, they are increasingly spreading false or misleading information, especially during fast-moving events. Their tendency to produce confident but inaccurate responses—often influenced by the data they’re trained on—raises concerns about public trust, manipulation, and the need for stronger media literacy and verification practices among users.
AI Writing vs. Human Writers: When Machine and Mind Collaborate
Humans
Melody Dalisay
AI tools are increasingly integrated into creative writing, serving as collaborators rather than replacements for human authors. While AI excels at generating drafts and offering new ideas, it lacks the lived experiences and emotional depth that define authentic storytelling. The creative process is evolving into a partnership, with humans providing emotional resonance and judgment, and AI offering efficiency and inspiration—ensuring that human voices remain central in storytelling’s future.
Rock band with more than 1 million Spotify listeners reveals it’s entirely AI-generated—down to the musicians themselves
New York Post
Caitlin McCormack
A rock band called Velvet Sundown rapidly gained over a million Spotify listeners with a retro-sounding debut album before revealing it was entirely AI-generated—music, lyrics, and visuals included. The project’s viral success and speed of output sparked debate about authenticity, creativity, and AI’s impact on music, as platforms like YouTube move to limit monetization of AI content amid growing concerns over authorship and environmental costs.
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