According to Supreme Court judge Hima Kohli, artificial intelligence (AI) should not be seen as a danger but rather as a chance to improve the standard of legal practise. She called AI a “game-changer” in the legal industry with the potential to completely transform the way lawyers practise.
The employment of AI in the legal industry, however, may raise ethical questions regarding “accountability, transparency, and protection of rights of parties,” according to Justice Kohli.
Even at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and after, she claimed, technology had made a substantial contribution to keeping the wheels of justice rolling.
“As we embrace technology, it is imperative that we are aware of the ethical concerns that come with the use of artificial intelligence in courts. The use of AI raises concerns about accountability, transparency, and protection of rights of parties. It will be critical to establish clear guidelines and protocols to ensure that justice is dispensed equitably to all parties,” the top court judge said at a function organised by the ICICI Bank here on Saturday.
The introduction of artificial intelligence has raised some concerns among the legal community, according to Judge Kohli, who was speaking on the subject of “Artificial Intelligence and the Legal Sector.”
“Lawyers may fear that their expertise and skills will be made redundant by technology. However, to my mind, AI should not be viewed as a threat, but as an opportunity to enhance the quality of legal practice,” she said.
First off, the judge noted that AI has the potential to significantly increase the effectiveness of legal practise by automating repetitive operations, cutting down on the time needed for legal research, and offering real-time access to information. According to Justice Kohli, this could give attorneys more time and room to concentrate on difficult and valuable work, improving the final results for clients.
“Secondly, AI systems can analyse vast amounts of data and identify patterns and relationships that may not be immediately obvious to humans. It leads to increased accuracy in decision-making and better outcomes for clients,” she said.
She added that AI may be utilised to give clients fast access to information, tailored recommendations, and virtual legal support, which would enhance their overall experience and foster long-lasting partnerships. According to Justice Kohli, the incorporation of AI into the legal industry has the potential to open up new commercial prospects and perhaps spur the creation of new legal-tech goods and services.
“Finally, lawyers who embrace AI will be better positioned to stay ahead of their competition and remain relevant in an increasingly technology-driven legal landscape,” she said.
“To conclude, AI is a game-changer in the legal field, and has the potential to revolutionise the way lawyers work,” the judge said. While stressing the need to use AI in the legal field, Justice Kohli, however, said the technology would lack human empathy, compassion, and reasoning, which are essential for the dispensation of justice, and for these, judges would be needed.
“A judge comes on the bench with a vast and varied legal and personal experience, whose role goes beyond a bookish application of the law. She is equipped to weigh the facts of a case, understand human behaviour, and apply the law to circumstances so as to arrive at a fair and just decision. AI, however advance as it may be, lacks human empathy, compassion, and reasoning that are essential to dispensation of justice,” she said.
According to Judge Kohli, the function of judges in an Indian judiciary powered by AI is likely to alter and adapt. But, their essential responsibility in guaranteeing fairness, impartiality, and the protection of civil liberties would stay consistent and unchangeable.
“While AI has the potential to greatly improve the efficiency of the judicial system, it can never supplant a human judgment. Judges will continue playing a pivotal role in ensuring that the principles of justice are upheld and that the rights of litigants are protected,” she said.
The top court judge said there are “no limits to growth because there are no limits to human intelligence and imagination” and after all, AI is the creation of the mankind.
“The bottom line is that AI can never replace human values that are deeply ingrained in the constitutions of countries, in institutions of excellence in the academia and governments, and the civil society. So, let us embrace technology and AI, but with wisdom, and a steadfast commitment to the rule of law,” she said.
Commenting about the pivotal role technology played in ensuring that justice was administered throughout the epidemic and beyond, Judge Kohli claimed that it also highlighted the technology’s enormous potential in the area of law and justice.
