ExpertPages says 35% of expert witnesses now use generative AI

ExpertPages released new survey data showing generative AI has moved into litigation consulting, with 35% of expert witnesses saying they use AI tools in their work. The report points to productivity gains and widespread concern about hallucinations as legal professionals weigh how fast AI will reshape expert witness practice.

Why it matters: - Generative AI is starting to change how expert witness work gets done, especially in research, report drafting and data analysis. - The shift matters to attorneys, insurers and litigation consultants because expert preparation is a core part of case strategy and cost. - The report suggests AI is becoming a competitive tool in a field that still depends heavily on deep experience.

What happened: - ExpertPages released follow-up data from its 2026 Expert Witness Fees & Practices Survey focused on AI adoption in litigation consulting. - The dataset shows 35% of surveyed expert witnesses now use generative AI tools in professional work. - The survey was conducted from Jan. 8, 2026, through April 15, 2026, by DeBow Communications Ltd., an independent market research firm based in New York. - More than 400 expert witnesses and litigation consultants across North America took part in the survey. - The survey operated at a 95% confidence level with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points. - The Top Line Report is available as a free PDF download at the full report.

The details: - Of the experts using AI, 24% adopted the tools within the past year and 11% have used them for more than a year. - Research and literature review is the most common use case at 32%. - Drafting or editing reports accounts for 14% of AI use. - Reviewing opposing experts' reports accounts for 12% of AI use. - Data analysis and trend identification account for 11% of AI use. - Among AI users, 78% report a positive impact on productivity. - Of those users, 47% say productivity increased slightly and 31% say it increased significantly. - 81% of respondents expressed concern about AI hallucinations or inaccuracies. - 57% said they have strict processes in place to reduce those risks. - 24% said hallucinations or inaccuracies remain a major ongoing concern. - Experts gave AI a median confidence score of 7.1 out of 10 for its future role in expert witness work. - The broader survey found 83% of experts have more than a decade of experience.

Between the lines: - The data points to a profession that is still grounded in experience, but increasingly open to software that speeds up background work. - The biggest use cases are support functions, not final judgment calls, which suggests AI is being folded into workflow rather than replacing expert analysis. - The strong concern over hallucinations shows adoption is growing alongside caution, not confidence without limits. - Gerry H. Goldsholle, founder and CEO of Advice Company, said AI has entered the expert witness landscape and is giving early adopters advantages in speed and data analysis.

What's next: - ExpertPages plans to release the full cross-tabulated report, with practice-area breakdowns, in the coming weeks. - The AI dataset and the previously released fee metrics are available through ExpertPages' insights portal. - Legal professionals should expect AI to play a larger behind-the-scenes role in report preparation, data ingestion and case strategy.

The bottom line: - AI adoption is no longer marginal in expert witness work. The survey shows meaningful use, measurable productivity gains and persistent concern about accuracy all at the same time.