British minister wants debate on AI judgments
A British minister has said that her government must start to contemplate how and when court decisions should be made by artificial intelligence (AI).
According to the Law Society Gazette of England and Wales, courts minister Sarah Sackman MP told the International Bar Association (IBA) conference in Toronto that inviting greater use of AI could bring huge potential benefits.
She also stressed, however, that ethics and fairness had to be at the forefront of discussions – making it essential that these issues were addressed now.
Legal ethics
“If AI decisions become the norm – and I think we have to imagine the possibility that they could, maybe not in the next three years of this parliament but maybe in 10 years – what happens to the evolution of law and legal ethics itself?” she asked.
“What kind of decisions should remain adjudicated by human beings – and why?” Sackman added.
The minister said that, while the British government would not have all the answers, it should be prepared, or risk being overtaken by events.
Opportunities and responsibilities
“‘There is no reason why AI should not assist with the drafting of contracts or researching legal questions but, looking beyond that, could AI one day calculate damages more accurately than a judge does now? Possibly.
“Could it adjudicate? Technically yes, but the question is not whether machines can decide, or will be able to decide because I am pretty sure they will be, but whether they should and what we might lose if they do,” she told the conference.
The Gazette quoted Sackman as telling delegates that AI presented “extraordinary opportunities but also profound responsibilities”.
Done right, she added, AI could provide a justice system that was “faster, fairer, more accessible and perhaps even more ethical than ever before”.