Judge Geoffrey Vos Pushes AI Debate Ahead of Retirement

In the coming days, Geoffrey Vos will step down as Master of the Rolls, the most senior judge in England’s civil courts. One of his last initiatives is to spark a discussion on whether judges should employ artificial-intelligence tools and, if so, how far that use should extend.

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Current UK guidance advises judges to restrict AI to purely administrative functions. Vos, however, says he relies on Microsoft Copilot daily to locate distant documents and summarise extensive texts. His routine use illustrates a gap between official policy and the practical benefits some judges perceive.

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During a recent visit to a Shenzhen court, Vos observed civil disputes being decided with substantial AI assistance. He left convinced that other jurisdictions could follow suit, especially for personal-injury claims, low-value professional-negligence matters, and similar straightforward cases. He argues that such matters could be resolved more quickly and at lower cost, while complex commercial or sensitive family disputes would still require a human judge.

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The article notes that several lawyers have been caught citing case-law “hallucinations” produced by AI, and that a UK solicitor recently lost their practising licence partly because of improper AI use. Additionally, litigants using chat-bot counsel are filing an unprecedented volume of claims, many of which appear to be without merit, further straining the courts.

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Vos maintains that the primary desire in civil disputes is swift resolution and that the challenge lies in drawing a clear line for AI involvement. He urges courts worldwide to consider how AI might be integrated responsibly, balancing efficiency gains against the need to safeguard legal accuracy and professional standards.

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