AI has potential role in regulation: SLCC
Scotland has an opportunity to work collectively to encourage and empower regulatory bodies to be an active part of an “artificial intelligence ecosystem”, the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission said today.
The SLCC was responding to a consultation from the Scottish Government’s AI Strategy Steering Committee on developing Scotland’s AI strategy. Drawing on its experience as both a legal sector co-regulator and a public body, it highlights in particular the need to consider how to encourage the use of new AI technologies and remove barriers, whilst ensuring regulation and risk is managed and the public protected.
It also sets out some of the potential uses and benefits of AI within the legal sector, including increased consumer choice and accessibility of services, as well as the possible risks and harms, such as bias in decision making impacting unfairly on certain groups, or breaches of data privacy.
SLCC chief executive Neil Stevenson commented: “We were pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to this important discussion. While it might not look like a priority, there is a very high likelihood that we at the SLCC will soon be dealing with complaints where part of a legal service has been delivered by artificial intelligence. We also need to look for ways to make regulation and complaints handling more cost effective, and AI may well offer new solutions for regulators.”
He added: “We also think there is a specific opportunity fast approaching to use planned reform of legal regulation in Scotland as a flagship opportunity for empowering regulators to be an effective part of an AI ecosystem which encourages innovation and has appropriate safeguards.”