The first comprehensive, data-driven benchmark of AI adoption across the U.S. arbitration community by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) and Jus Mundi.
How does the U.S. arbitration field actually use and feel about AI?
That question now has a data-driven answer: over 550 arbitrators, legal practitioners, and in-house counsel across the US told us what they really think about AI in arbitration: where they’re using it, where they currently see its limits, and what’s standing in the way.
The State of AI in US Arbitration 2026, the first comprehensive benchmark of its kind, reveals a field that is more nuanced, more considered, and more surprising than the conversation around AI tends to suggest.
From trust and adoption to workforce implications and the road ahead, the report covers the full picture of AI in US arbitration today. Here are six findings that stood out:
- The Trust Paradox: Why average trust in AI sits at 2.18/5.00 overall, yet reaches 3.42 among daily users, and what that gap actually tells us
- The Judgment Line: Where respondents currently see limits on AI’s primary role in adjudication, and why that view is most consistent among the most experienced practitioners
- The Infrastructure Divide: Why 83% of global law firm respondents have a clear AI policy while only 15% of independent arbitrators do, and what it means for the profession
- The Boutique Surprise: Why boutique firm respondents reported stronger efficiency gains
- The Maturity Model: How the field breaks into four distinct archetypes (Skeptics, Experimenters, Adopters, Leaders) and what moves practitioners from one to the next
- What the Field Is Asking For: Why 30% of respondents ranked continued institutional guidelines as their top priority, above cost reduction, ROI evidence, and client pressure
Featuring insights from:
- Jack Levin – Arbitrator/Mediator, Levin ADR
- Jo Colbert Stanley – Independent Arbitrator, Stanley Legal Services LLC
- John Hanish – Counsel, Partner, Maynard Nexsen PC
- Sarah Reynolds – Counsel, Partner, Kaplan & Grady
- Steve Gregory – Counsel, Partner, Gregory Law Firm PC
About the American Arbitration Association®
The American Arbitration Association is the largest provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services in the world. Marking its centennial in 2026, the American Arbitration Association has transformed how legal issues are resolved for better since 1926, turning disputes worldwide into opportunities for understanding and progress. A not-for-profit organization, the American Arbitration Association’s mission is to deliver ADR services with integrity, transparency, and innovation. For more information, visit www.adr.org.
About the AAA-ICDR InstituteTM
The AAA-ICDR Institute is the thought leadership and R&D arm of the AAA, focused on enhancing equity, efficiency, and accessibility in dispute resolution. Through initiatives that promote access to justice, court-connected ADR, the use of artificial intelligence in ADR, and fairness in arbitration, the Institute collaborates with courts, academic institutions, nonprofits, and technology partners to develop equitable, data-driven solutions to shape the future of ADR. Learn more at adr.org/aaa-icdr-institute.
About Jus Mundi
Founded in 2019 and recognised as a mission-led company, Jus Mundi is a pioneer in the legal technology industry dedicated to powering global justice through artificial intelligence. Headquartered in Paris, with additional offices in New York, London, and Singapore. Jus Mundi serves over 150,000 users from law firms, multinational corporations, governmental bodies, and academic institutions in more than 90 countries. Through its proprietary AI technology, Jus Mundi provides global legal intelligence, data-driven arbitration professional selection, and business development services.
