Faculty researcher addresses Philippine Supreme Court convention on justice reform and AI

The convention focused on the ongoing reform of the Philippine justice system

A researcher at the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures has delivered a keynote address at a major international conference organised under the auspices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, highlighting the global impact and real‑world relevance of University research in the field of justice and technology.

Dr Carlo Eugeni, Associate Professor of Audiovisual Translation at the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, was invited to speak at the 10th National Convention of the Court Reporters of the Philippines (COSTRAPHIL), held in Davao in April.

Dr Carlo Eugeni at the start of the 10th National Convention of the Court Reporters of the Philippines (COSTRAPHIL).

The convention, which was attended by thousands of legal and court‑reporting professionals from across the Philippines, focused on the ongoing reform of the Philippine justice system, including the introduction of new digital and AI‑enabled technologies into court reporting.

Dr Eugeni’s keynote speech, The Changing Role of the Reporter in Interaction with the Machine, drew on his long‑standing research into speech‑to‑text reporting, human–machine interaction and the future of professional reporting in courts and parliaments. Adopting a post‑humanist perspective, Dr Eugeni examined how technological change has reshaped the skills required of court reporters over time, from manual, mechanical and digital methods to Artificial Intelligence.

Reflecting on the experience, Dr Eugeni said:

“Like many colleagues, I sometimes wonder what my contribution to the world is. While the teaching side of our job has a direct impact on students’ development, visible in their performance and career paths, our research and scholarship often remain quite abstract. We tend to work in isolation, publish for a very limited audience, and attend conferences in relatively elitist contexts. This experience in the Philippines, particularly the interest of thousands of Filipino court reporters and the commitment of the Chief Justice, has allowed me to demonstrate more concretely how important and impactful research and research-based knowledge can be in people’s lives.”

Following speeches by Justice Raúl Villanueva of the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court’s Assistant Administrator Gina Ignacio, and the vice mayor of the City of Davao Rodrigo Sangkola Duterte II, Dr Eugeni delivered an opening speech to the 2300 attendees

A central theme of the address was the impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence on professional practice. While acknowledging the rapid automation of some tasks, Dr Eugeni emphasised that highly trained reporters remain essential to the justice system, particularly in interpreting nuance, context and meaning in complex legal settings. He also addressed concerns about job security, arguing that AI is more likely to support efficiency and improve working conditions than replace skilled professionals.

“Given that the number of Filipino reporters using shorthand remains high,” Dr Eugeni said, “a key concern was whether GenAI would make the country’s 10,000 professionals redundant. My answer – as already discussed with the Chief Justice over the last months – was that, given the specialised skills required, the high-quality standards, and the limited availability of equipment and trained court reporters in the Philippines, GenAI is unlikely to jeopardise the profession in the foreseeable future. On the contrary, it is likely to help practitioners produce more reports in less time and with reduced physical and mental effort, thereby improving the efficiency of the justice system as well as their work–life balance.”

During his visit, Dr Eugeni also met senior judicial figures and academic leaders in Davao to discuss future collaboration, continuing professional development and potential international partnerships involving the University of Leeds.

Dr Eugeni’s participation at COSTRAPHIL highlights the University of Leeds’ commitment to internationally engaged research that informs professional practice, contributes to public institutions, and addresses global challenges at the intersection of language, technology and justice.