Philippine Supreme Court adopts framework on AI use

The Supreme Court (SC) En Banc approved a comprehensive guide on the responsible use of human-centered artificial intelligence (AI) in the judicial system.

In a Resolution dated February 18, 2026, in A.M. No. 25-11-28-SC, the SC issued the "Governance Framework on the Use of Human-Centered Augmented Intelligence in the Judiciary."

According to an SC news release, the guide is a significant step toward modernizing court operations and administering justice through new technologies.

The guide is based on three ethical principles: fairness, accountability, and transparency. 

The SC said these principles support “the ethical and responsible use of human-centered augmented intelligence tools in the judiciary."

 It also reinforces "the public’s faith and confidence in the independence and impartiality of the judicial system."

A key feature of the Framework is the use of the term “human-centered augmented intelligence.” This emphasizes that technology must remain centered on humans and should support human reason and judgment, not replace them.

“The use of human-centered augmented intelligence should be centered on human values, such as the promotion of the rule of law and fundamental freedoms, dignity and autonomy, privacy and data protection, fairness, nondiscrimination, and social justice,” the SC said.

The framework also encourages the adoption of AI tools that reduce ecological harm.

The SC said it will create "a permanent Committee on Human-Centered Augmented Intelligence. 

This committee will be the SC’s main advisory body on the design, development, and ethical use of AI tools in the Judiciary. 

The SC said the framework applies to Justices and judges of all court levels, court officials and employees, court users, as well as vendors or third-party contractors involved in designing, developing, or using AI tools for the Judiciary.

"No AI tool may be used unless authorized by the SC En Banc," it said.

The high court said disclosure of AI use is mandatory. "Users must state the AI tool used, its version, why it was used, and the level of AI involvement and human oversight. They must also declare that they are responsible for the output in line with the accountability principle," the court said.

It also noted that members of the Judiciary, court officials, and employees must disclose the use of AI tools in preparing court-issued documents for adjudication.

Some of these AI tools may include voice-to-text transcription, translation, automated compilation or generation of structure authorities, citations or other paratext, legal research, document summarization, automated document processing including optical character recognition, copy-editing or proofreading, and data redaction or sanitation in accordance with applicable laws and rules.

WORKING GROUP

A working group chaired by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen developed the framework, with Associate Justices Ramon Paul Hernando and Rodil Zalameda serving as vice chairpersons. 

Other judiciary members, experts, and lawyers helped create it.

The working group also consulted the SC En Banc, the SC’s Management Information Systems Office, and the Office of the Chief Attorney. 

-Paraluman N ews