The rise of AI requires judges to keep an open mind to recognize both the opportunities and risks to legal protection.
Independent justice and flesh-and-blood judges are true cornerstones of legal protection in our society. What does the rise of AI mean for this dependent and expert judiciary? Until now, the judiciary has taken a cautious approach to AI. Recently, however, it was revealed that a judge had used ChatGPT in preparing a draft judgement. Judges must also adjudicate cases involving AI, such as when the government's use of AI violates citizens' rights.
This raises the question of what the rise of AI means for the judiciary and, in particular, its role in protecting fundamental rights. Mistakenly, many judges still seem to think that “AI is nothing to them. But in the year 2024, legal protection also requires judges to keep an open mind about AI and recognize both the opportunities and the risks.