The Supreme Court of India has on Tuesday (23 May) taken a significant step towards embracing artificial intelligence (AI) technology by inviting bids for the deployment of AI tools to transcribe oral arguments and court proceedings.

In the bid document released, it has specified that eligible companies should be incorporated under the Companies Act or be a government entity with a proven track record of two years in providing such systems, either nationally or globally.

Initially, the AI tool for transcription will be deployed for Constitution Bench matters and, over time, extended to cover all matters, subject to the approval and directions of the concerned Court.

The bid document provides insight into the proposed process, stating that the transcription generated through AI, machine learning, and deep learning solutions must undergo proofreading by qualified transcribers and subsequent review by reviewers to eliminate any typographical errors or mistakes.

The final version of the transcription, once refined, will be forwarded to the Court's Registry for publication on the official website and sharing with the respective Advocates through electronic means.

It is emphasised that AI-generated transcriptions should be available in easily accessible file formats compatible with popular operating systems of computers and other electronic devices. The integrity and security of the data must be maintained according to industry standards.

The transcriptions should also be in a searchable format, such as PDF/A for archiving and long-term preservation, HTML, Word Process, etc.

Additionally, the AI tools should include timestamps and be capable of integration with video recordings of court proceedings. Advanced features like bookmarking, labels, and markers for quick access and convenience are expected in the deployed AI tool.

As per the requirements the AI tool should have the capability to provide summarizations of transcriptions, allowing for speaker-centric and/or party-specific classifications.

The recent test run of live transcription during the hearings of the Constitution Bench in the Maharashtra politics case showcased the Court's initial foray into leveraging AI technology for court proceedings.

By adopting AI-based transcription tools, the Supreme Court aims to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility in documenting and sharing the proceedings.

This technological advancement has the potential to streamline the transcription process, enabling faster dissemination of information while maintaining the highest standards of quality.

The Supreme Court of India's decision to invite bids for AI-based transcription tools marks a significant milestone in the integration of AI technology into the legal domain.

By embracing these advancements, the Court seeks to leverage the capabilities of AI to improve the transcription process, thereby benefiting the legal fraternity, litigants, and the general public alike.