The National Center for Technology and Dispute Resolution (NCTDR) and the International Council for Online Dispute Resolution (ICODR) announce the issuance of a new jointly produced document. The Guidance is an extension of the NCTDR-ICODR Online Dispute Resolution Standards issued in May 2022, and adopted by the International Organization for Standards (ISO) in March 2025. 

The general guidance covers all of the ODR Standards of practice for third parties involved in dispute or conflict engagement.  The deployment of artificial intelligence to dispute management whether face-to-face or online offers valuable benefits to increase effectiveness and access to justice while also raising risks for disputants, third parties and dispute resolution entities.  Accordingly, NCTDR and ICODR have developed guidance for what will inevitably be the use of AI in all forms of dispute engagement. 

The Guidance can be accessed at:  Guidance for Third Parties Using AI

From the announcement:

“NEW YORK and BOSTON, March 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The American Arbitration Association (AAA®) and Suffolk University Law School will host Arbitration and Mediation in the Age of AI, a one-day conference on Friday, June 12, in Boston. The program will bring together litigators, in-house counsel, arbitrators, mediators, legal technologists, and other professionals to examine how AI is reshaping dispute resolution and what that means for legal practice, policy, and access to justice.

This conference builds on ongoing conversations in the field by focusing on AI real-world applications, current deployments, and practical implications. Attendees will gain practical insight into how AI tools are being developed, deployed, and evaluated across dispute resolution settings through a day of practical and interactive programming, including expert-led panel discussions, interactive debates, live demonstrations, and real-world case studies.

“AI is no longer theoretical in dispute resolution,” said Bridget McCormack, AAA president and CEO. “These tools are already shaping how disputes are resolved and how people access the legal system. At the same time, we’re working through critical questions around reliability, ethics, and oversight, while recognizing the opportunity to expand access to justice in ways not previously possible.”

A key focus of the conference is how AI is already being applied in dispute resolution. Discussions and demonstrations will draw on examples including:

• The AAA’s AI Arbitrator, which evaluates the merits of a dispute, applies legal reasoning, and produces a draft award for a human arbitrator to review and finalize.
• The AAA’s Resolution Simulator, which provides a non-binding, simulated decision to help legal teams evaluate their positions before formal proceedings begin.
• The AAA-Suffolk ODR Innovation Clinic, where Suffolk Law clinical students are building a customized version of AAA’s ODR.com platform to help couples navigate procedural requirements for uncontested divorces. The project addresses a persistent access to justice challenge observed by Clinic Director Hon. John Casey (Ret.), who, during his time on the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court, saw individuals repeatedly turned away at the registry due to incomplete filings.

On Saturday, June 13, following the conference, attendees are invited to participate in a hackathon, hosted by ODR.com, AAA-ICDR Institute™, and Suffolk University Law School, that brings together law students, technologists, and practitioners to collaborate on solutions at the intersection of AI and dispute resolution. This hands-on session moves from discussion to development, giving participants the opportunity to translate ideas from the conference into practical tools and applications. Attendees of the ODR2026 Forum at Harvard University are encouraged to join the hackathon. For more information and to secure your spot, visit https://www.vibeodr.com/.

To register for Arbitration and Mediation in the Age of AI, visit: https://feature.adr.org/2026-AAA-Suffolk-AI-Conference.”