AI as Arbitrator: A Glimpse into the Future of Arbitration?!
Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Associate Professor, Communication and Media Law Department, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran
2
Researcher in the PhD program in private law, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/jlsm.2025.729667
Abstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is driving transformative changes, particularly in the domains of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) and international commercial arbitration. With advancements in machine learning (ML) algorithms and natural language processing (NLP), the key question is whether AI can function not only as an assistant to arbitrators but also as an independent arbitrator—and whether such an approach aligns with international frameworks such as the UNCITRAL Model Law and the 1958 New York Convention. Studies indicate that AI can predict potential arbitration outcomes by analyzing historical data. Systems like Smart settle ONE utilizes AI algorithms to facilitate negotiations and propose fair solutions. In straightforward cases (such as text-based contractual disputes), AI is capable of issuing preliminary rulings by referencing arbitration laws and procedures. However, challenges such as ensuring impartiality and arbitrator independence, adhering to procedural fairness, and assessing the efficacy and reliability of AI as an arbitrator remain. Through an analytical-descriptive approach, this study examines these issues and concludes that none of them pose an insurmountable obstacle to the use of AI systems in arbitration.
Keywords
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