Chief registrar’s office to provide guidelines on AI use in court

Chief Justice Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh announced that the chief registrar's office will release a circular on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in court proceedings within a few weeks. He emphasized that while the office does not discourage lawyers from using AI, they must adhere to guidelines. Chief Justice Wan Farid acknowledged that AI can save significant judicial time and effort when employed correctly.

During his address at the International Malaysia Law Conference 2026, he stated that lawyers will remain relevant despite AI's assistance. He shared an anecdote about a law firm partner who encouraged their tech-savvy employees to install AI software; the partner later inquired about the software's impact on client cases. The employees reported that AI assisted in analyzing data and processing legal precedents, but expressed uncertainty about predicting case outcomes, highlighting the importance of human judgment in legal matters.

Chief Justice Wan Farid stressed the necessity of honesty in legal practice, asserting that while technology can expedite justice administration, it cannot replace the role of human custodians of the law.