Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a go-to tool for many tasks and industries. People rely on it to address all sorts of problems in their daily lives – be it a challenging math equation, suggestions on what to watch, or automating work tasks. But what about the key issues affecting the quality of people’s lives, their relationships and their livelihoods?
The Justice Gap
At any given time, 1.5 billion people worldwide face justice problems they cannot resolve. These problems can be related to labour, housing, land disputes, a lack of access to public services, and essential documents like birth certificates. In most countries, 40% of these problems remain unresolved, deepening social and economic hardship over time. For example, in the United States, this amounts.
Unresolved justice problems harm individuals, weaken entire communities, strain economies, and destabilise societies. According to data from the Task Force on Justice, people struggling with unresolved justice problems can lose up to a month’s wages. Domestic violence costs countries an average of 1% – 2% of their annual gross domestic product (GDP), rising to 10% in countries like the United Kingdom.
Yet, justice systems around the world remain ill-equipped to handle this demand effectively and efficiently. Courts and law firms address only 10% of the legal problems people face, leaving the vast majority empty-handed, due to inaccessibility, complexity, and inefficiency. In much off the Global South, approximately 80% of justice problems are taken to informal community leaders, such as village elders and religious authorities. While these mechanisms offer some relief, they often lack scalability and fail to meet basic rights standards. This global justice gap deepens inequality, fuels economic instability and conflict, and leaves millions without fair or timely resolutions.
Harnessing AI to Bridge the Justice Gap
AI offers a unique opportunity to bridge the justice gap. AI-powered tools can scale mediation services, provide accessible legal information, streamline case management, help mitigate bias, and offer personalised legal education and prevention strategies. Imagine a platform driven by AI that can quickly and affordably develop and deploy justice services tailored to community needs, while continuously learning and improving from every interaction. An open-source initiative would facilitate shared advancements, enabling customisation to local laws, customs, and languages while integrating seamlessly with existing justice systems.
Consider Paola, a 30-year-old Spanish woman with Down syndrome. When her mother and father passed away, a complex inheritance dispute arose, and the legal jargon and lengthy procedures made it nearly impossible for her to follow the case. Without a clear understanding of her rights, she was at risk of being excluded from crucial decisions. Now, imagine an AI-powered tool that simplifies legal rulings into plain language and provides accessible summaries for people with special needs. This tool could help Paola grasp the case’s outcome, understand her entitlements, and make informed decisions about her future.
Amadou, a middle-aged farmer from the rural outskirts of Niger, represents another example. He has long cultivated a plot of land that has been passed down through generations. When an infrastructure project led to government expropriation and compensation claims, a lack of formal documentation sparked a dispute with his cousin over rightful ownership. With no clear legal recourse, tensions escalated.
Now, imagine an AI-powered Land Dispute Resolution App that analyses local customs and past cases to suggest fair land-sharing solutions, even in the absence of formal documents. This tool could guide structured negotiations, assist families in reaching agreements based on cultural practices, and convert oral histories and witness statements into structured evidence, thereby strengthening their legal claims. It could also connect users with trusted local mediators and suggest resolution pathways based on similar disputes.
Responsible Innovation and International Cooperation
As the adoption of AI accelerates, so does the urgency for clear governance frameworks to ensure its ethical and effective use in the justice sector. International collaboration is key to shaping the ethical use of AI to support effective and inclusive justice sectors. The OECD assists countries in this effort by leveraging its expertise in digital transformation, AI governance, and access to justice through people-centred justice systems.
The OECD’s upcoming framework for supporting governments in using AI in the public sector outlines the essential enablers and guardrails for trustworthy AI use and emphasises the engagement of diverse stakeholders. Through policy dialogue, peer learning, and technical support for implementing policy tools, the OECD aids countries in designing and enacting governance frameworks that promote fairness, accountability, and transparency in AI use within the justice sector while mitigating risks related to bias and transparency.
« Imagine an AI-powered Land Dispute Resolution App that analyses local customs and past cases to suggest fair land-sharing solutions, even in the absence of formal documents. »
HiiL’s expertise in justice innovation and its global network establish it as a crucial partner in promoting responsible AI adoption in the justice sector. With a solid track record in feasibility studies and implementing innovative, people-centred justice solutions, HiiL assists governments and institutions in evaluating AI’s practical implications while ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability.
Achieving transformative change in the justice sector through AI requires active collaboration with like-minded partners who share the same commitments. By working together to leverage AI and community-driven approaches, we can dismantle barriers to justice and ensure that fair, effective solutions are accessible to everyone.
While AI offers unprecedented opportunities, it also presents risks, as unchecked AI adoption could threaten access to justice, human rights, and the rule of law. In a global context, disparities in AI uptake between the North and the Global South could deepen existing inequalities. Unequal access to technology, skilled talent, and economic resources can hinder inclusive development and limit local innovation.
This digital divide exacerbates power imbalances in shaping AI governance and its broader societal impact. Bringing together diverse perspectives from countries around the world and fostering shared learning is essential for building a future where countries remain connected and competitive, shared values are upheld, and AI benefits everyone.
Written with contributions from OECD: by Tatyana Teplova, Head of Division and Senior Justice Counsellor; Maaike de Langen, Senior Policy Advisor; Mariane Piccinin Barbieri, Policy Analyst; and HiiL: Ronald Lenz, Director – Innovation; and Zainab Malik, Senior Policy and Advocacy Advisor.
On 20 March, HiiL and the OECD will bring together policymakers, legal experts, and justice innovators for a critical discussion on AI’s role in access to justice. Learn more >>
