Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to make significant inroads into various sectors in China, with its latest application being considered for the judicial system. This innovation aims to enhance the efficiency of judges and simplify access to legal services for the public, according to a recent announcement from the Supreme People's Court.
During a news conference held in November, Yu Maoyu, the editor-in-chief of the People's Court Press, introduced an AI-generated judicial platform that has already been registered with China's cyberspace authority. Yu remarked that the platform constitutes "a national-level legal AI infrastructure built on massive, authoritative and high-quality judicial data," noting it encompasses an extensive collection of 320 million pieces of legal information, including court rulings, cases, and legal opinions.
The sophistication of the platform allows it to integrate a vast array of information and generate responses tailored to user requirements. It is equipped with the capability to comprehend legal terminology and apply logical reasoning, making it a powerful tool for the judicial process. Yu elaborated on the platform's potential benefits, stating that it could "save judges time and energy in looking up and reviewing legal material and selecting cases," further enhancing the efficiency of judicial proceedings.
Fellow official Zhang Chengbing echoed this sentiment, explaining that the platform could perform analyses and comparisons of information across numerous electronic files, allowing for quicker identification of key points and summarisation of relevant outlines. "To put it simply, it will be a legal assistant for judges, serving them in classifying legal information and reducing their burden in handling a rising number of cases," Zhang said.
Beyond aiding judges, plans for the platform include extending public legal services to a broader demographic, such as local residents. Zhang noted that the platform aims to provide tailored legal opinions and suggestions related to mediation and litigation, thus making legal consultations more accessible for individuals unfamiliar with the judicial system.
This initiative marks a continuation of the Supreme People's Court's efforts to leverage emerging technologies to enhance judicial operations. Earlier this year, the court launched an online archive enabling the public to search major civil, criminal, and administrative cases. This digital resource was developed in response to public concerns surrounding pressing legal issues such as mental abuse, cyberbullying, telecom fraud, domestic violence, and justifiable defence.
In the past decade, Chinese courts have implemented various online platforms designed for searching verdicts and attending trials, consistently aiming to streamline legal procedures and provide litigants with more convenient access to legal services. With the introduction of the AI-powered platform, the courts are poised to embrace a smarter and more efficient future in case handling and public legal service delivery.
Source: Noah Wire Services