Role of AI is only to assist, not to judge, says CJI Surya Kant, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• CJI Surya Kant stated that Artificial Intelligence (AI) should serve only as an assistant in judicial processes, not as a decision-maker.
• He emphasized that AI's role is limited to procedural tasks like triaging disputes, organizing evidence, or drafting initial translations.
• The caution follows a recent incident where a Tribunal relied on "AI-hallucinated verdicts" to decide a case.
• The Supreme Court has advocated for "zero-tolerance" towards uncritical dependence on machine intelligence in judicial decisions.

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Detailed Insights:

• CJI Surya Kant delivered these remarks at a summit organized by the Indian Institute of Arbitration and Mediation.
• He clarified that AI lacks the authority to weigh the equities of opposing parties, which is a core function of human judgment.
• The Supreme Court has previously warned that blind reliance on AI could lead to a "catastrophe" for the judicial system.
• AI tools like SUVAS (Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software) are already used for translation, demonstrating AI's assistive potential in the judiciary.
• The Indian judiciary is exploring AI to enhance efficiency and reduce case backlogs, but with a clear emphasis on human supervision and ethical oversight.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI): The simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems, for tasks like learning, problem-solving, and decision-making.
• Judicial Process: The formal procedures and stages involved in legal proceedings and the administration of justice within a court system.
• AI Hallucination: A phenomenon where an AI model generates outputs that are plausible but factually incorrect, nonsensical, or not based on its training data.
• Arbitration and Mediation: Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods where parties resolve conflicts outside of traditional court litigation, often facilitated by a neutral third party.