AI and Arbitrator Selection: Who Chooses, Human or Machine?

The use of artificial intelligence in arbitration is no longer theoretical. It is beginning to influence one of the most critical stages of the process: the selection of arbitrators.

On May 19, 2026, the Silicon Valley Arbitration and Mediation Center and the SCC Arbitration Institute will convene a virtual program focused on how AI-driven tools are entering arbitrator selection and what that shift means for the integrity of the process.

From data-informed shortlists to algorithmic recommendations, new technologies are being introduced with the promise of improving efficiency and expanding visibility into potential candidates. At the same time, these tools raise important concerns about transparency, bias, and the extent to which decision-making can or should be delegated to automated systems.

This session will examine how institutions, counsel, and arbitrators are approaching these questions in practice. Panelists will discuss where AI can add value, where human judgment remains essential, and how hybrid approaches may offer a more balanced path forward. The conversation will also explore the need for clear guardrails, including how to assess claims of neutrality and ensure accountability in AI-assisted processes.

Dr. Dorothée Schramm, Independent Arbitrator and Vice-President of SVAMC, will moderate the discussion.

Speakers include Jake Lowther of the SCC Arbitration Institute; Sarah E. Reynolds of Kaplan & Grady LLP; Robert Mahari, Founder and CEO of Akiva AI; and Annie Lespérance, Head of Americas at Jus Mundi.

The program will take place online from 9a to 10a ET.

Register here to attend.