San Diego Superior Court halts AI translation expansion after pilot feedback

The California Judicial Council has stopped plans to expand AI translation services at courthouses statewide after reviewing feedback from a lengthy pilot project, Times of San Diego reported.

San Diego Superior Court was among over 30 courts that tested a voice-to-text AI translation tool from 2022 until April 2026, using it about once a month in its Civil Business Office, according to a court spokesperson.

Court staff reported challenges with the AI tool, including difficulty capturing information from fast speakers and occasional software update delays. The tool also lacked support for languages such as Mandarin and Haitian.

Despite the pilot ending, San Diego Superior Court continues to use a telephone translation service provided by United Language Group, which employs human interpreters and was available during the pilot alongside the AI tool.

The Judicial Council emphasized the need to review the AI service's accuracy and efficiency before any further rollout, following concerns raised by court clerks and advocates during the pilot period.