AI makes learning more lively, engaging

Chinese judicial authorities are increasingly leveraging technologies, especially artificial intelligence, to enhance law education, making every effort to boost work efficiency and raise the public's legal awareness.

In 2024, Beijing introduced its first digital legal assistant, Xiao An, at Miaofengshan Ethnic School in Mentougou district. Developed by the local court, this AI-powered tool is designed to meet children's legal and safety education needs efficiently and conveniently.

Xiao An integrates cutting-edge generative AI technology with a comprehensive legal database, enabling it to understand speech and respond instantly to user queries. It provides accurate, detailed, and easy-to-understand answers, offering minors intelligent legal and safety education anytime, the court said.

"Xiao An is fascinating. It understands me and interacts with me," said a student surnamed Sun. "Besides asking teachers and parents, I'll also turn to it when I have questions."

A teacher surnamed Du said: "The AI device introduces laws and explains legal issues at a high level, perfectly bridging our understanding gaps. It's not limited by time or space and allows children to learn about the law while having fun."

Earlier this year, a resident of Yingde, Guangdong province, sought help from local prosecutors after being dissatisfied with a decision to drop a fraud case. Guided by an AI model, the man understood the relevant laws, easing his concerns, according to a Legal Daily report in May.

Zhu Fan, deputy head of the Yingde People's Procuratorate, noted that this AI-driven legal model, combining professional knowledge with vast data, significantly enhances the interactivity of legal education and boosts public engagement in learning about the law.

Similar initiatives are also underway in Anhui province and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, where the local judicial departments have developed various AI applications to improve their legal services in areas including marriage, employment, and consumer rights protection to further raise legal awareness of the people.

Cui Junjie, an associate professor at Capital Normal University, praised this innovative approach to legal education. "Compared with traditional methods, AI makes learning about the law lively and engaging," he told the paper.

However, he cautioned that ensuring the accuracy and authority of AI-generated legal content remains crucial. "AI algorithms can sometimes produce misleading information, affecting the accuracy of legal education content," he explained. He also noted that using AI for public legal analysis could pose risks like personal information leaks.

Cui suggested that judicial departments and relevant authorities should enhance oversight and regulation of AI in legal education. He emphasized the importance of ensuring content authenticity and reliability while protecting the privacy and data security of users.