Abstract
Bot Mediation refers to an AI model that offers parties a speedy, fair, and effective way to resolve disputes. The AI-driven model empowers them to mediate and settle their cases whenever they want to, wherever they want to, and on their own terms. Bot mediation can be seen as a middle of the road option. One extreme is to have a human mediator – lot of delay and expensive. A bot mediation costs a fraction of the expense associated with mediating a case with a live neutral.
The other extreme would be picking up the phone and using an asynchronous ODR solution wherein one party puts in a number and the other party sees it, maybe a day or two later and puts in another number. Such ODR solutions are very basic. Bot mediation is a midpoint. Admittedly not as textured as a human being but light years ahead of any current ODR solution. Bot mediation is an example of fully synchronous and secure online web application that facilitates negotiations by leveraging proprietary AI technology.
Natural human bias can negatively affect the negotiation process. By leveraging algorithms trained on real case data, bot mediation eliminates natural human bias to derive statistically reliable settlements. Bot mediator’s advice throughout the negotiation process is guided by proprietary algorithms and case specific data.
Use case of bot mediation is therefore pretty strong as it prevents the incursion of lot of time and a lot of expense. It’s a great way to get people in a safe space to resolve a case or narrow the dispute before even heading to live mediation. Bot mediation is capable of guiding parties to a mediator’s proposal when settlement offers and demands are close to intersecting. If mediation fails, bot mediation can refer your case to a qualified neutral. It can thus even be used as a complimentary to conventional mediation.
Introduction
Mediation is an alternative method for resolving disputes to the traditional litigation or arbitration. It is voluntary, confidential and facilitated by an independent third party called the mediator. The mediator is trying to help parties who are in the dispute to see if they can find a mutually acceptable basis to settle. As they can’t settle on their own, the mediator comes in and facilitates and tries to help them get to a settlement.
Mediation is private unlike litigation. So you do not have to air your dispute in public and that can be very important from a reputation or perspective. The mediator unlike a judge or an arbitrator doesn’t decide. That’s a very big difference and it’s very flexible as to outcomes. So a party might decide they’d give a credit note, free services or an apology and all of these things can be part of a settlement. If mediation is successful the parties will reach an agreement and they will probably sign a settlement agreement to end their dispute.
The concept of bot mediation is fast becoming a transformative force in how individuals, organizations, and communities resolve conflicts, manage negotiations, and facilitate digital interactions. While traditional mediation relies on neutral human third parties to foster understanding and agreement, the emergence of bots—powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning—has opened up new dimensions in mediation. These automated or semi-automated entities now guide, moderate, or even directly adjudicate disputes and coordinate between parties across a growing array of domains.
This paper delves into the definition and conceptual underpinnings of bot mediation, traces its theoretical and historical roots, describes the enabling technologies and architectures, and surveys its applications.