AI an aid to knowledge, not a substitute: Justice Maheshwari

“Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a supplement to human knowledge, not its replacement,” remarked Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, Chairperson of the 23rd Law Commission of India and former Judge of the Supreme Court, at the inaugural session of the two-day International Conference on ‘Lex Ex Machina: Interdisciplinary Dialogues for a Responsible Digital Future’, hosted by the Faculty of Law, SRM University, Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Rai, Sonepat.

Addressing a global audience, Justice Maheshwari underscored the ethical imperatives surrounding AI, cautioning that it lacks independent cognition and may generate responses irrespective of their accuracy. He also highlighted emerging jurisprudential challenges, particularly relating to the attribution of rights and liabilities for actions undertaken by AI systems, with references from technological, legal and medical sectors.

Justice Mohan Peiris, former Chief Justice of Sri Lanka and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, the Guest of Honour at INCOLEM 2025, spoke about the transformative impact of AI on the legal profession. From judgment writing to drafting and research, he noted, AI is becoming integral to legal work. However, he firmly stated that AI must remain subordinate to human oversight, with its outputs governed by human-devised algorithms and ethical frameworks.

In his presidential address, Professor Paramjit Singh Jaswal, Vice-Chancellor of SRM University, reflected on the societal shifts brought about by digital connectivity and technological evolution. Drawing upon the philosophical tenets of dharma, he emphasised the need for a principled approach to AI legislation in India—one that harmonises legal innovation with constitutional and ethical safeguards.

The conference saw participation from distinguished scholars from the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Argentina, Romania, Sri Lanka, Singapore and several other countries, making the inaugural session a global exchange of ideas.

Addressing the valedictory session, eminent jurist Professor Upendra Baxi acknowledged AI’s increasing role in the legal field but cautioned students against abandoning books. He said no technology could replace books as a source of learning.