Plan to expand AI translation at courthouses halted after advocates find fault with lengthy pilot project – Times of San Diego

Plan to expand AI translation at courthouses halted after advocates find fault with lengthy pilot project  Times of San Diego

San Diego Superior Court was one of more than 30 courts that piloted the voice-to-text tool. Both court clerks and advocates were left with concerns. California’s Judicial Council has canceled a plan to roll out AI translation at court counters statewide, saying the service must undergo a review of its accuracy and efficiency. San Diego Superior Court, one of more than 30 courts that piloted the voice-to-text tool, used it about once a month in its Civil Business Office from 2022 until this spring, but clerks preferred a telephone translation service, officials said. The court collected informal feedback on the AI tool from staff, said Emily Cox, a spokesperson for San Diego Superior Court.

Cox said staff reported that “it was difficult for the application to capture information from people who spoke quickly,” and that the tool occasionally required software updates that delayed service. In addition, she said the tool was unavailable in Mandarin and Haitian. While the pilot has ended, staff at the San Diego court continues to use a telephone translation service offered through a private vendor, United Language Group, which Cox said uses human interpreters. The service was available throughout the pilot, alongside the tool. The pilot program began in 2021 and ended in April 2026, according to public records obtained by legal aid groups. Before launching