The Reshaping Effects and Limitations of the Judicial AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) application in the judiciary has initiated the historical process of moving from access to justice (ATJ) to “visible justice” and has profoundly changed the judicial operation mechanism. The judiciary’s visualization, codification, modularization, and intellectualization are reshaping the judicial procedure and greatly improving the efficiency of intelligent justice. But Judicial AI (JAI) still has its inherent limits. It is not easy to achieve absolute objectivity and accuracy in algorithmic decision-making, and in more complex cases, JAI can promote formal justice but not substantive justice. The judiciary’s AI optimization and reshaping effect should be developed simultaneously with risk prevention. It is necessary to establish corresponding regulations and relief mechanisms for algorithmic decision-making and to infuse the concepts of openness, fairness, and responsibility to promote science and technology for goods and positive development of intelligent justice to realize “visible justice.”