Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has asserted that artificial intelligence must remain accountable to constitutional values, democratic legitimacy, and human dignity. Speaking at a public lecture on 'Artificial Intelligence and International Law' at Birkbeck College, University of London, he described AI as an operational reality reshaping governance, commerce, warfare, communication, public administration, and the exercise of judicial and sovereign power.
Technology and Legal Frameworks
Justice Kant emphasized that technology itself is neither inherently benevolent nor harmful. Its impact depends on the legal, political, and ethical frameworks within which societies choose to deploy it. He stated, 'The responsibility of law, therefore, is neither to resist technological progress nor to surrender unquestioningly before it. Its responsibility is to ensure that technological power remains accountable to constitutional values, democratic legitimacy, and human dignity.'
AI as a Test for International Law
The CJI noted that unlike previous technological revolutions, AI does not merely enhance human capacity but increasingly participates in decision-making processes historically considered uniquely human. He described AI as posing one of the most significant tests for international law in its modern evolution. Governments now use algorithmic systems to allocate welfare benefits, assess immigration applications, monitor borders, regulate financial systems, and support policing functions. Militaries are developing autonomous capabilities, and courts across jurisdictions confront questions involving AI-generated evidence, automated decision-making, and digital due process. Private corporations possess technological capacities that rival or exceed the informational reach of sovereign states.
Opportunities for Justice
Justice Kant highlighted that AI presents unprecedented opportunities for strengthening the administration of justice. Courts are increasingly leveraging AI-driven tools for legal research, case management, translation services, transcription, document classification, and identifying judicial precedents. When deployed responsibly under human supervision, such technologies can reduce delays, improve efficiency, expand access to legal information, and enable judges to focus on nuanced aspects of adjudication. He concluded, 'AI, therefore, should not be viewed solely as a source of legal complexity, but also as a powerful instrument for advancing the constitutional promise of timely, accessible, and effective justice.'
Event Incident
During the lecture, an attendee expressed concern about growing hostility to dissent in India and attempted to address a question to the CJI. However, an organizer intervened, stating, 'With all due respect, I'm so sorry, I would not be able to take up that question since the topic is concerning artificial intelligence and international law. I am extremely sorry! We have to cut it off.'
