The Drum Awards for Marketing - Extended Deadline

-d -h -min -sec

IBM Watson Artificial Intelligence Technology

AI ‘judge’ predicts correct outcome in majority of human rights cases

Author

By Rebecca Stewart, Trends Editor

October 24, 2016 | 3 min read

A robotic judge has been developed by scientists at University College London and the University of Sheffield and Pennsylvania which has correctly predicted the outcomes of hundreds of cases heard at the European Court of Human Rights.

AI predicts court case outcomes

AI ‘judge’ predicts correct outcome in majority human rights cases

The software can weigh up legal evidence and moral questions of right and wrong to accurately predict the result in hundreds of real life court cases. According to researchers, the AI predicted the verdicts to an accuracy of 79% by looking for patterns in the text and labeling cases as being in violation or non-violation of European rules.

The algorithm comes as artificial intelligence (AI) continues to disrupt traditional professions like accountancy and journalism. However, researchers have said that they don’t see the system replacing lawmakers any time soon.

“We don’t see AI replacing judges or lawyers, but we think they’d find it useful for rapidly identifying patterns in cases that lead to certain outcomes,” said Dr Nikolaos Aletras, who led the study.

"It could also be a valuable tool for highlighting which cases are most likely to be violations of the European Convention on Human Rights."

The researchers are poised to test the system using further data, with Aletras telling the BBC: "There is no reason why it cannot be extended to understand testimonies from witnesses or lawyers' notes.”

Just this month, several UK politicians called on the government to establish an AI commission to examine the potential challenges the technology could create for future generations in terms of employment and ethical issues.

Legal AI program Ross, which harnesses the power of IBM’s Watson was recently enlisted by Ohio-based firm Baker & Hostetler to handle bankruptcy cases.

During a very different type of judging, IBM’s Watson successfully predicted Cannes Lions winners earlier this year as part of The Drum’s AI-powered issue.

IBM Watson Artificial Intelligence Technology

More from IBM Watson

View all

Trending

Industry insights

View all
Add your own content +