U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has expressed a cautious stance on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the legal field. In a year-end report, he highlighted the potential of AI to increase access to justice, revolutionize legal research, and expedite case resolution. However, he also emphasized the need for caution and humility in the use of AI, citing privacy concerns and the technology's current inability to replicate human discretion.

Roberts' commentary acknowledges the significant influence of AI on judicial work, particularly at the trial level, while also warning about the potential risks, such as the generation of fictitious content by AI tools. This reflects a growing awareness within the legal community of the need to adapt to the evolving capabilities of AI, as evidenced by the proposal of rules to regulate the use of generative AI tools by lawyers in some U.S. appeals courts.

US supreme courts roberts urges caution