Kerala High Court regulates AI use in judicial processes

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has issued a set of guidelines to regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools by judicial officers, particularly in the preparation of orders and recording of witness statements.

According to the directive, only officially approved AI tools are to be used within the judicial system. Judicial officers must undergo training on the use of these tools through sessions conducted by the Judicial Academy or the High Court. The High Court’s IT department must be informed of any irregularities or misuse involving approved AI tools. The guidelines make it clear that violations will attract appropriate action.

The court has mandated that officers disclose the specific AI tools being used in the preparation of judicial documents. Continuous supervision has been recommended at all stages of AI usage to ensure accuracy and accountability. Officers have also been advised to exercise caution, given the potential for errors in AI-generated content.

Importantly, the court has warned against the use of cloud-based AI tools such as ChatGPT. While acknowledging that AI can be helpful in many areas, the court noted that unrestricted use of certain tools could compromise privacy and data security, prompting the need for this precautionary restriction.