Optimizing Online Mediation: Balancing Automation, AI & the Human Touch

Summary:

This video captures a roundtable discussion featuring Jim Melamed, a pioneer in online dispute resolution (ODR). The discussion centers on the evolution of mediation, particularly its digital transformation accelerated by the pandemic, and the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Melamed highlights how AI functions as an idea generator and administrative assistant in mediation, while emphasizing the continued importance of human mediators for complex emotional disputes. Melamed also discusses ethical considerations and practical applications of AI tools in the field, including transparency with parties and the potential for AI to enhance accessibility, efficiency and empowerment.

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This workshop and video review how modern mediation, which started out in the 1980’s as a “fully physical process,” has now become fully digitized.

Dramatic changes in online mediation began with the dedicated word processor and PC, then continued with the development of the world wide web, the personalization of mobile communications, and “the cloud.”

Covid proved that both practitioners and courts could, at least under duress, in fact move their mediation work fully online and, in fact, 70-80% of all mediation cases are now continuing “fully online.”

The biggest change of all, however, is surely be the integration of AI into the mediation process. All previous technical developments were essentially about “digital plumbing,” making our communications easier and faster, but not really impacting the content of those communications. AI is different. AI is able to directly speak to the content of the communications that work their way through our now established digital plumbing.

How can this ability of AI to speak to any and all substantive issues in a mediation be best utilized?

Resources

Slide Presentation: https://niki-borofsky-an2g.squarespac…

Public Chat Transcript: https://niki-borofsky-an2g.squarespac…

** Please note, the views and opinions expressed at Breakfast Roundtables are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or position of ACR-GNY or John Jay College. **

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Jim Melamed

Jim Melamed co-founded Mediate.com in 1996 along with John Helie and served as CEO of Mediate.com through June 2020 (25 years).  Jim is currently General Counsel for Mediate.com and ODR.com. During Jim's 25-year tenure, Mediate.com received the American Bar Association's 2010 Institutional Problem Solver Award.  Before Mediate.com, Jim founded The… MORE