The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court on November 13, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file

MANILA — Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo has warned that artificial intelligence (AI) is only a tool to streamline processes in the judiciary but it should never compromise the administration of justice.

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Gesmundo spoke before his fellow judiciary leaders on October 12, 2024 at the 19th Conference of Chief Justices of Asia and the Pacific in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“Courts should still be populated with human judges if we are to expect that empathy and compassion would still go into the consideration of granting equitable remedies,” Gesmundo said.

Gesmundo however recognized that AI may have a transformative role in reshaping the judicial landscape. 

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He discussed the significant potential of AI to assist judges in streamlining administrative tasks, expediting legal research, and predicting judicial outcomes, according to a statement released by court.

Gesmundo also discussed the Philippine Supreme Court’s innovations under the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027, its five-year reform agenda which incorporates AI-driven programs in court processes.

“He also underscored the moral responsibility of judiciary leaders to guide their institutions through these rapid technological changes,” the SC said.

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