Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered voice-to-text transcription platform will be utilized by all courts in the country within this year after one year of pilot tests nationwide.

Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo said the SC has started the procurement of licenses for a full rollout of AI transcription platform across all levels of the judiciary.

During the recent regional convention and seminar of the Court Stenographers Association of the Philippines (CONSTRAPHIL) in Tagaytay City, Gesmundo said the use of AI-powered voice-to-text transcription tools were pilot tested in the Sandiganbayan and 41 city and municipal courts, and regional trial courts nationwide.

Using Scriptix, an AI-driven transcription platform, the participating courts reported an average of 50 percent reduction in transcription time, with some achieving up to 80 percent, the Chief Justice said.

“This led to faster turnaround of court transcripts and allowed personnel to redirect their efforts toward more substantive judicial tasks,” Gesmundo said.

With continued use by court personnel in the pilot courts, the system’s accuracy improved from 70 percent to as high as 95 percent, he also said.

The AI tools handled “Taglish” or a combination of Tagalog and English commonly used in courtrooms with increasing precision, he added.

Despite the use of AI-powered transcription tools, Chief Justice Gesmundo pointed out that court stenographers remain vital to the judiciary’s modernization, even as it transitions to digital proceedings.

He assured the stenographers that AI will not replace them; instead, it will enhance and support their work.

“Real-time transcription technologies, AI-driven tools, and digital systems are best viewed as complementary instruments, not replacements, which will enable you to meet the growing demands of our courts while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and reliability,” he said.

“You are, in every sense, the memory of the courtroom, and as the judiciary evolves, as courts transform, so must you be better equipped, supported, and valued,” he also said.

The Chief Justice highlighted the SC’s ongoing support for the stenographers’ professional development by advancing stenographic education and partnerships with academic institutions such as the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) and private organizations like the COSTRAPHIL.

He also said: “Across the regions, stenographers are actively participating in specialized training sessions and conventions to strengthen their skills, adaptability, and confidence in the face of change. This very gathering in Tagaytay City is a testament to that initiative.”

The SC’s Office of the Spokesperson said the two-day COSTRAPHIL convention featured intensive training aimed at helping members expand their skills and knowledge while enhancing their adaptability.

Assistant Court Administrator Maria Regina Adoracion Filomena M. Ignacio discussed the duties of court stenographers and best practices in courtroom procedures.

Lawyer Maria Teresa O. Demesa-Razal, assistant chief of office at the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) – Office of Administrative Services, addressed personnel policies and procedures, including court personnel benefits.

Lawyer Analiza O. Thomas-Parra, officer-in-charge of the OCA Legal Office, spoke about the key features of the proposed new Code of Judicial Conduct for Court Personnel, while lawyer Antonio Ceasar R. Manila, deputy Chief Justice staff head, provided updates on the SC’s five-year Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations, including the Office of the Regional Trial Court Manager.

Lawyer Angela Marie M. De Gracia-Cruz from the Management Information Systems Office discussed judicial innovations in court stenography.

Also present during the convention were Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva, Regional Trial Court Tagaytay Executive Judge Michael C. Maranan, and Dr. Carlo Eugeni, associate professor of Media Accessibility at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, who served as the international guest speaker.