Source: NatLawReview

NatLawReview reports on the New York State Unified Court System's (UCS) issuance of its first "Interim Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence," effective late 2025. This policy governs the ethical use of AI by all judicial and non-judicial personnel, positioning AI as a tool to assist rather than replace human decision-making. The guidelines explicitly warn against the risks of AI "hallucinations" and bias, mandating that all AI-generated outputs be reviewed by human users for accuracy. It also restricts the use of AI to specific pre-approved programs and emphasizes that confidential information must not be entered into public AI platforms due to privacy concerns.

The policy comes in response to a rise in ethical violations, including instances where attorneys were sanctioned for filing error-ridden, AI-generated briefs. The UCS approach is one of "AI integration" rather than a total ban, establishing mandatory training for staff while preserving judges' discretion to prohibit AI use in specific contexts. This interim policy serves as a foundational step for future reforms, aiming to harmonize the use of technology with professional responsibility standards in the New York legal system.