Legal teams adopt cautious approach to AI, survey finds

Legal teams are growing more comfortable with artificial intelligence, though most remain reluctant to rely on automation without human oversight, according to new research from Corsearch.

The company’s 2026 State of Trademarks Report found that 78 per cent of in-house and law firm practitioners favour a combination of AI tools and human expertise in trademark management, while only 2 per cent have adopted a fully automated model.

The findings suggest the trademark sector is moving from scepticism towards a more pragmatic acceptance of AI, particularly as legal teams face rising pressure around enforcement and disputes.

More than half of respondents said they were actively exploring AI’s potential, up 10 percentage points from last year. Spending priorities are also shifting,  as enforcement and dispute management now account for the largest share of resources among respondents, overtaking trademark clearance and search, which led in 2025.

The report, based on a survey of more than 230 trademark practitioners across the US and EMEA, points to a broader change in how legal departments view automation: less as a replacement for professional judgement than as a tool to improve efficiency and reduce risk.

Viji Krishnan, president of trademarks at Corsearch, said customers increasingly wanted AI systems that could support workflows and free up time for decision-making, while maintaining “a human in the loop”.