MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has introduced a definitive framework for the use of artificial intelligence in the judiciary, emphasizing that technology should serve as “augmented intelligence” rather than a replacement for human discernment.
The 25-page guidelines, issued by the high tribunal en banc on Feb. 18, 2026, establish that human control must remain paramount in all court processes, ensuring that the cognitive abilities of judges, lawyers, and court employees are supported, not superseded.
- Human-Centered Approach: AI tools must be grounded in the promotion of the rule of law, social justice, privacy, and data protection. The court maintains that “human discernment” is the core of the judicial branch.
- Mandatory Disclosure: Any use of AI in court documents—including transcription, translation, summarization, or research—must be clearly disclosed and explained in plain language to maintain public trust.
- Accountability: Responsibility for AI-generated output falls strictly on the user, developer, or designer. Users are personally accountable for the consequences of the tool’s output.
- Phased Implementation: AI tools must undergo pilot-testing and receive explicit approval from the Supreme Court en banc before full-scale deployment.
The framework classifies “predictive AI” as a high-risk system due to its potential for inaccuracies. To safeguard the integrity of the law, the Supreme Court requires:
- Comprehensive Risk Assessments: Protection against “data poisoning,” model leakage, and hardware attacks.
- Anti-Bias Measures: Ensuring AI does not worsen existing inequalities or discriminate against marginalized sectors through biased data or mimicry.
- Strict Data Governance: Confidential and sensitive information cannot be processed via AI without specific court approval, aligning with national data privacy regulations.
The digitalization push is a cornerstone of the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027. Recent pilot tests of the AI transcription tool Scriptix (2023-2024) showed a 50% to 80% reduction in transcription time across various court levels. As of June 2025, court stenographers have been authorized to use this tool to expedite the delivery of justice.
To oversee these advancements, a permanent committee on human-centered augmented intelligence will be established, consisting of legal and tech stakeholders to monitor effectiveness and prevent overreliance on automated systems.