Subvolts take AI judges are here, and this former chief justice explains how they work and what it means for justice. Feb 12, 2026 - Developers
- Learn how AI is being integrated into specialized professional tools like legal arbitration platforms.
- Business
- Understand the potential for AI to streamline complex processes and impact institutional trust in sectors like law.
This episode features a former chief justice discussing a real AI tool for the legal system, offering practical insights.
The surprising case for AI judges
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From Subvolts
Summary and analysis by Subvolts editorial, AI-assisted.
Nilay Patel interviews Bridget McCormack, former Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice and CEO of the American Arbitration Association, on Decoder. They discuss McCormack's AI Arbitrator platform, exploring its function, benefits, drawbacks, and broader implications for institutional trust and the future of law. The conversation delves into automating parts of the arbitration process.
This episode talks about using AI to help judges make decisions, like a smart assistant for legal cases. It explores if this makes things fairer and builds trust in the justice system.
This episode offers insight into the practical application of AI in the legal field, moving beyond theoretical discussions. It's for legal professionals, technologists, and anyone interested in AI's societal impact. McCormack's work on the AI Arbitrator connects to current frontier lab efforts in developing specialized AI tools for professional domains, highlighting the push for AI integration in complex industries.
- HostNilay Patel
- GuestBridget McCormackPresident and CEO, American Arbitration Association
- Guest: Bridget McCormack, former chief justice for the Michigan Supreme Court and president and CEO of the American Arbitration Association.
- Episode Title: The surprising case for AI judges
- Show: Decoder with Nilay Patel
- Length: 73 minutes
- Product Discussed: AI Arbitrator
My guest today is Bridget McCormack, former chief justice for the Michigan Supreme Court and now president and CEO of the American Arbitration Association. For the past several years, Bridget and her team have been developing an AI-assisted arbitration platform called the AI Arbitrator.
So I sat down with her to talk about how the tool works, the pros and cons of automating parts of the arbitration process, and the bigger picture questions around institutional trust, justice, and the future of law.
Links:
- All rise for JudgeGPT | The Verge
- Why do lawyers keep using ChatGPT? | The Verge
- Judge berates AI entrepreneur for using a generated ‘lawyer’ | The Verge
- Judge slams lawyers for ‘bogus AI-generated research’ | The Verge
- LexisNexis CEO says the AI law era is already here | Decoder
- ChatGPT can be a disaster for lawyers — Robin AI wants to fix that | Decoder
- Considerations In building guardrails for AI use In arbitration | Law360
- The AI Arbitrator: What it is, what it isn’t, and where it’s going | Law360
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Credits:
Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt. This episode was edited by Chris Jereza and Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.
The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.
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- arbitration
- Bridget McCormack
- a way to resolve disputes outside of court
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Questions people ask
- What is the AI Arbitrator?
- The AI Arbitrator is an AI-assisted arbitration platform developed by Bridget McCormack and her team at the American Arbitration Association.
- What are the potential benefits of AI in arbitration?
- The episode discusses the pros and cons of automating parts of the arbitration process, touching on institutional trust and the future of law.
Page generated Oct 19, 2026. Summaries are Subvolts' own; the audio, artwork and notes belong to The Verge.