The Arizona Supreme Court is now using AI avatars to help people understand its decisions. These avatars, named Daniel and Victoria, deliver video summaries of court rulings. This makes legal news easier to understand and faster to share.
Arizona is the first U.S. state to use AI-generated characters in this way. Other courts, like one in Florida, use AI chatbots, but Arizona’s approach is unique. Instead of just helping people navigate a website, these avatars act as virtual spokespersons.
Why Did the Court Choose AI?
The court wants to improve public trust and make legal decisions more accessible. Last year, a controversial ruling on abortion laws led to protests and confusion. Chief Justice Ann Timmer saw this as a sign that the court needed to communicate better. She believes AI avatars can help explain complex rulings more clearly.
“We serve the public better by saying, ‘Here is our decision, and this is what it means,’” Timmer said.
How Do the AI Avatars Work?
The avatars were created using a program called Creatify. The court writes news summaries for each ruling, and then the avatars read them out in video format. These videos are shared online, making court decisions easier to understand.
The court’s spokesperson, Alberto Rodriguez, says that producing a video with AI takes about 30 minutes, much faster than traditional video production. The court may add more AI avatars in the future and offer translations in Spanish.
Will People Trust the AI Avatars?
Experts have mixed opinions. Some say the avatars look realistic, but their voices sound robotic. Others worry that viewers may mistake them for real reporters. The court includes disclaimers to make it clear that they are AI-generated.
Some experts believe that adding storytelling elements and natural dialogue would make the avatars more engaging. However, the court must be careful not to appear biased in how it presents rulings.
In the future, Arizona’s AI avatars may become a model for other courts looking to improve public understanding of legal decisions.
Source: apnews
