Artificial intelligence: The Bots Come Marching In

‘A robot lawyer donning black robes and presenting a case before a sessions judge is certainly in the realm of science fiction. But the entry of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the legal profession is no longer a mad scientist’s daydream.
When Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (CAM) tied up with Canada-based, Kira Systems, earlier this year to develop customised AI machines programmed for executing legal tasks, it became the first law firm in the country to publicly announce that it is transitioning to the use of this cutting-edge platform. In simple terms, tedious, time-consuming tasks like collecting data, searching records, going through old cases, fact verification, etc—currently done by junior lawyers and paralegals—will soon be left to AI machines to handle. “AI will make law firms more responsive and swifter. We don’t know about others, but we certainly believe in being the first, and are the first, in embracing AI technology in India. In the West, only a few peer firms have taken up this challenge. In many ways, we are pioneers, globally,” said Ashok Barat, chief operating officer of Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, to India Legal.
While Barat may claim to be the first to use cutting-edge AI technology, a few top-rung firms like Nishith Desai Associates already use data management systems. But it is a recent development. Even in its basic form, AI has been in use in the legal field for no more than a year. However, developing a dedicated and elaborate platform tailored to understand the nuances of our legal system and to operate in the Indian environment is surely a first of its kind.’
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