The American Arbitration Association-International Centre for Dispute Resolution® (AAA-ICDR®) has published new AAAi Standards for AI in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). They offer guidance for neutrals, advocates, and ADR administrators on ethical, effective, and human-centered use of AI in their work.

The AAAi Standards supersede the Principles Supporting the Use of AI in Alternative Dispute Resolution, which the AAA-ICDR released in November 2023. This earlier document served as an important foundation—emphasizing core concepts such as competence, confidentiality, advocacy, impartiality, independence, and process improvement.

The new AAAi Standards align those concepts with AI governance principles we have developed since. Through months of planning, the AAA-ICDR’s AI Governance Working Group arrived at a framework that addresses six core considerations: ethical and human-centric values, privacy and security, accuracy and reliability, explainability and transparency, accountability, and adaptability.

What’s New in the AAAi Standards?

The AAAi Standards address practical considerations for AI use in ADR. Tailored guidance for three stakeholder groups—administrators, neutrals, and advocates—is designed to foster an environment where AI augments, rather than diminishes, fairness, transparency, and trust in ADR.

For example:

• Ethical and Human-Centric Values: AI systems should be designed with human oversight, preserving independent judgment when using AI
• Privacy and Security: Rigorous data protection practices by all users of AI are important in the context of ADR.
• Accuracy and Reliability: AI outputs should always be verified against trusted sources.
• Explainability and Transparency: AI processes should be built so that outputs can be clearly understood, reviewed, and questioned when necessary.
• Accountability: There should be human ownership over AI tools so that technology serves the process, not the other way around
• Adaptability: Continuous learning and critical evaluation of AI systems addresses the fast pace of technological change.

Grounded in Governance

The AAAi Standards are the culmination of a structured governance initiative the AAA-ICDR launched in 2024. Following a phased approach—foundation-building, operational rollout, and optimization—the AI Governance Working Group is developing structures like a centralized AI inventory, ongoing monitoring, feedback loops, vendor oversight, and compliance tracking.

A thoughtful governance framework allows for an active, living system that evolves with legal, technological, and ethical developments. Our AI risk assessment approach, oversight, and related processes reflect a deep commitment to responsible innovation.

Looking Ahead

With the AAAi Standards, the AAA-ICDR reaffirms its mission to deliver ADR services that are fair, efficient, and forward-looking. These Standards empower neutrals, advocates, and administrators to integrate AI into their work in ways that respect and strengthen the integrity of dispute resolution.
This is not the end of our work. We continue to evaluate, update, and improve our standards and practices as technology and ADR evolve together.

We invite all parties, neutrals, and advocates to explore the AAAi Standards, to engage critically and constructively with AI, and to join us in building a future where technology and justice are not at odds but in partnership.

Together, we can reinforce using AI that enhances, rather than undermines, the human values at the heart of ADR.