ARTIFICIAL intelligence (AI) is set to be integrated into the legal system with the introduction of the “Roadmap to My Digital Justice” next year, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

According to the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), this will be a cooperation involving various stakeholders, such as the Digital and Communications ministries, to adopt digital solutions in the law.

Azalina said using AI in the legal sector would increase service efficiency, streamline the legislative drafting process with data capabilities and reduce time taken for legal tasks.

“This roadmap is expected to include short, medium and long-term objectives, strategies, and initiatives.

“The main focus is to ensure a more critical and analytical human workforce than AI capabilities,” she said during Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

She added that others involved in the drafting of the roadmap will be the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC), the Bar Council, and state legal bodies.

“Having a clear direction is very important as we adopt and embrace AI, which is expected to facilitate legal work in a transparent, systematic, fair and safe manner through an online platform that will be integrated into the public sector,” said Azalina.

She was responding to Syahredzan Johan (PH-Bangi) who had asked about the government’s preparations in adopting AI in the legal sector.

Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (PN-Besut) then asked a supplementary question on whether AI could take over the jobs of lawyers in future.

Azalina said she is not concerned that AI would take over the roles of lawyers and judges in future as the human element was still needed to make discretionary decisions.

Presently, AI use in the legal sector is confined to the Court Recording and Video-to-Text System, which automatically transcribes audio recordings into written text.

During the tabling of Budget 2025, Putrajaya allocated RM61mil to upgrade judicial facilities, including the development of the e-kehakiman system.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/11/15/ai-to-be-integrated-into-legal-system