ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE MALAYSIAN LEGAL SYSTEM: ISSUES, CHALLENGES AND WAY FORWARD

Abstract

The coming of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 has outraged those who have not braced themselves for it. The legal fraternity is one of the industries affected,   stunned by the   imminent digital technologies that learn on their own such as artificial intelligence (AI). Unlike any other previous technology, AI can make judgments freely and unexpectedly, causing concern on accountability for the harm inflicted by AI decision-making. The first part of this paper defines AI’s functions and opportunities presented.  Given the promising features of AI, the Malaysian judiciary has explored the used of AI in sentencing, as explained in the second part. Despite such opportunities, notable issues and challenges concerning negligence, vicarious liability, and crime arising from the use of AI technology cannot be overlooked. The paper concludes that the role of mankind is highly central in the use of AI despite the promising, yet risky potentials it could uncover.