Directing AI for better and smarter legislation

Source- The post is based on the article “Directing AI for better and smarter legislation” published in “The Hindu” on 10th April 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Scientific Developments and their Applications and Effects in Everyday Life.

Relevance– Various applications of AI

News– The article deals with scope of AI to improve the legislative process

What are various examples of countries using the power of AI for assisting the legislatures?

The House of Representatives in the United States have introduced an AI tool to automate the process of analysing differences between Bills, amendments and current laws.

The Netherlands House of Representatives has implemented the “Speech2Write” system. It converts voice to text and also translates voice into written reports. It comprises automatic speech recognition and automated editing capabilities.

Japan’s AI tool assists in the preparation of responses for its legislature and also helps in the automatic selection of relevant highlights in parliamentary debates.

Brazil has developed an AI system called Ulysses which supports transparency and citizen participation.

India is also innovating and working towards making parliamentary activities digital such as the ‘One Nation, One Application’ and the National e-Vidhan (NeVA) portal.

What are various uses of AI for the legislature?

AI can also simulate the potential effects of laws. Various datasets such as the Census, data on household consumption, taxpayers, beneficiaries from various schemes, and public infrastructure can be modelled.

AI can uncover potential outcomes of a policy. It can also help in identifying laws that are outdated in the present circumstances and require amendment. For example, the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.

AI can analyse citizens’ grievances and social media responses. It identifies issues and priorities that need immediate attention. It can also assist parliamentarians in seeking citizen inputs for public consultation of laws and preparing a manifesto.

What is the way forward to harness the potential of AI?

Digitalisation can be utilised in the field of law, policy-making, and parliamentary activities by harnessing the power of AI.

It needs to be ensured that the use of AI must be encouraged in an open, transparent, and citizen-friendly manner. Policymakers need to be mindful of the fact that it is a means to an end and not an end in itself.

For AI to work in India, we first need to codify our laws. Current laws are opaque, and complex. There is a huge translation gap between law-making, law-implementing and law-interpreting organisations.

The codification should contain a complete chain, right from the parent Act to the subordinate pieces of legislation passed by the central government and the amendment notifications.

There is a need to make laws machine-consumable with a central law engine. It can be a single source for all acts, subordinate pieces of legislation, gazettes, compliances, and regulations.