Lawyers must not rely blindly on AI, says Kulasegaran

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran warned against relying blindly on artificial intelligence (AI) for legal information. Kulasegaran highlighted instances from Singapore where lawyers faced penalties for citing fictitious cases generated by AI. Speaking at the launch of LAWYes, an AI platform for legal practice, Kulasegaran emphasized that AI should enhance, not replace, a lawyer's judgment, service quality, responsibility, and public trust.

He outlined three key considerations for lawyers adopting AI: ensuring the accuracy and verifiability of AI-generated information, maintaining responsibility for the work produced and client interests, and safeguarding client confidentiality. Kulasegaran stressed that clients must trust that their information is handled securely.

He also emphasized the need for young lawyers, law students, and apprentices to continue developing their skills in legal research, drafting, and independent analysis, stating that AI should complement these skills. Developed by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Faculty of Law lecturer Associate Professor Dr Shahrul Mizan Ismail, LAWYes offers legal research assistance, document drafting, and case-based workspaces, with a focus on reducing AI "hallucinations" by grounding its responses in available legal materials.

Kulasegaran expressed pride in LAWYes as a Malaysian innovation and hoped lawyers would use the time saved by AI to improve their wellbeing, rather than taking on more work.