‘AI is a Game-Changer in Legal Field’: Justice Hima Kohli on Why Artificial Intelligence Does not Pose a Threat, But an Opportunity

“The advent of Artificial Intelligence has caused some concerns amongst the legal fraternity. 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… While AI has the potential to greatly improve the efficiency of the judicial system, it can never supplant human judgment. Afterall, it is mankind that has created AI. The bottom line is that AI can never replace the human values that are deeply ingrained in the constitution 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.”

Justice Kohli was speaking on the topic of ‘Artificial Intelligence and the Legal Sector’ at the first anniversary of ‘i-Amicus’, an artificial intelligence-based knowledge-sharing platform created by the legal team of the ICICI Bank to help its customers deal with banking disputes.

Justice Kohli began her address with a note of optimism about the role of artificial intelligence in the legal profession. “For several reasons, it should not be viewed as a threat, but as an opportunity to enhance the quality of legal practice,” she said, outlining the following reasons:

1. AI has the potential to greatly improve the efficiency of legal practice by automating routine tasks, reducing the time required for legal research, and providing real-time access to information. This could create more time and space for lawyers to focus on more complex and value-adding tasks, ultimately leading to better outcomes for clients.
2. 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.
3. AI can be used to provide clients with instant access to information, personalized recommendations, and virtual legal assistance. It improves the overall experience of clients and helps build long-term relationships.
4. Integration of AI in the legal profession has the potential of creating new business opportunities, including the development of new legal tech products and services.
5. Lawyers who embrace AI will be better positioned to stay ahead of their competition and remain relevant in an increasingly technology-driven legal landscape.

“It is a fact of life that AI is here to stay, and we must be prepared to face it with wisdom, foresight, and an open mind,” Justice Kohli said, highlighting that in the future, sophisticated AI-powered systems are expected to play a prominent role in predicting outcomes of legal cases, enabling both lawyers and judges to be better prepared and take more informed decisions. She added, “This will lead to increased accuracy in the decision-making process and better outcomes for all concerned. It can improve the overall efficiency of the legal process and reduce the time and cost associated with resolving disputes.”

Use of artificial intelligence in matters with low stakes such as traffic violations, credit card recoveries, and cheque bouncing cases could help reduce the backlog and improve the speed of disposal, Justice Kohli said. “One way AI can be used in this context is through the development of predictive algorithms that could help identify patterns of fraud and assist judges in making informed decisions. This could lead to faster resolution of cases, as well as free the judges to hear and dispose of more complicated and long pending matters.” Besides this, AI could also be used through the development of chatbots or virtual assistants that could assist litigants in navigating the legal process and furnishing them with relevant information about their cases, the judge said.

At the same time, Justice Kohli cautioned that even as we embraced technology, it was imperative for us to balance the ‘benefits’ of AI with the ‘ethical concerns’ that accompanied it. “While the adoption of AI has the potential to bring significant benefits to the legal profession, it also raises important ethical and legal concerns that must be assessed carefully. The use of AI raises concerns about accountability, transparency, and protection of rights of parties.” Therefore, she suggested that the legal community ought to approach the integration of AI with ‘caution’ and make sure that the benefits of technology can be reaped without compromising on well-established principles of justice. Its use, she added, must be guided by clear guidelines and protocols to ensure that justice is dispensed with an even hand to all the stakeholders.

In conclusion, she said, “AI is a game-changer in the legal field and has the potential to revolutionise the way lawyers work. In the coming years, the role of AI is bound to expand in shaping the legal world and bring about positive changes. I hope you continue swimming against the tide, in this exciting and rapidly changing landscape of legal technology.”