Justice Kaul Emphasizes Human Element in Judging Amidst AI Advancements at LAWASIA Conference

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In a recent address at the 36th LAWASIA conference in Bengaluru, Supreme Court Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul highlighted the irreplaceable role of human judges in the face of advancing AI technology. Justice Kaul emphasized that while AI can enhance the speed of research and drafting in the legal field, it cannot replicate the unique combination of intellect and empathy inherent in human judgment.

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During a technical session focused on technological developments and the law, Justice Kaul expressed his reservations about over-reliance on AI, particularly in critical aspects of the judicial process.

“How to use AI to assist lawyers and judges? Speed of research, drafting increases. But a word of caution – a judge operates from the mind and the heart. I don’t believe AI can take care of the latter aspect. ChatGPT works both ways. I am a little conventional. I am not comfortable in outsourcing judgment writing to Chat GPT. A continuous thought process of a judge is important. Technology cannot replace the human mind,”

he stated.

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Justice Kaul’s remarks came amidst discussions on the role of the internet, e-courts, and machine intelligence tools like Chat GPT in adjudication. While acknowledging the utility of digital tools, he cautioned against allowing them to dominate the legal process.

“To summarize, digital tools are a useful servant, but let’s not make it a master to us. There is no guarantee that AI systems will be in line with fundamental principles,”

he said.

Furthermore, Justice Kaul underscored the importance of judges engaging with society to enhance their understanding of the law, particularly in areas like technology. He argued that isolation does not contribute to judicial excellence.

“Judicial propriety is a wide concept. Being merely antisocial doesn’t create a good judge. Interactions with sections of society have enabled me to understand the area better,”

he remarked.

Justice Kaul’s insights reflect a growing dialogue in the legal community about the balance between technological advancement and the indispensable human elements of justice and empathy in the judicial process.

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