Peking University Law School has joined forces with a Chinese data analytics and artificial intelligence company to establish the Peking University Legal AI Lab and Research Institute to focus on the analysis, development and application of AI across China's legal ecosystem. The move follows earlier announcements by the Chinese government to establish a top global AI innovation centre, announced last year in its 'Next Generation of Artificial Intelligence Development Plan' with plans to specifically target the legal sector. 

Legal AI Lab

The university has linked up with Gridsum to create the Legal AI Lab which was officially launched last week at a ceremony attended by Jingyi Ye, Deputy Party Committee Secretary of Peking University, Shouwen Zhang, Dean of Peking University Law School and Director of the Legal AI Lab,  Xiaolei Yang, Vice President of Peking University Law School and Executive Director of the Legal AI Lab, and Guosheng Qi, Chief Executive Officer of Gridsum. 

Smart courts

Mr Guosheng Qi, Chief Executive Officer of Gridsum, commented: 'We are excited to be at the forefront of China's legal AI development and to have the opportunity to work in close cooperation with globally renowned legal academic institutions and individuals. The combination of Peking University's highly-experienced legal community and our cutting-edge AI and big data technology will directly benefit the development and application of AI across China's judicial system as it migrates towards a 'Smart Court' initiative.'

Legal solutions

Gridsum will leverage its capabilities in big data and AI, as well as its experience in developing enterprise-focused AI applications, to provide technical and research expertise to the Legal AI Lab. Gridsum's credentials came from its integration of AI into the legal system with the launch of the "Faxin Wei Su" Platform in November 2017, a litigation service on WeChat's micro application platform. Working in close partnership with Peking University Law School and the Legal AI Lab is another step in Gridsum's broader strategy of developing a comprehensive suite of legal solutions targeting courts, prosecutors, law firms and others within the judicial ecosystem. The rollout of Gridsum's legal services product suite is gaining ground within China's court system. 

Next generation

In July 2017, China's State Council announced its 'Next Generation of Artificial Intelligence Development Plan' which articulated an agenda for China to develop a first-mover advantage and become a premier global AI innovation centre. China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently announced a more detailed short-term action plan in a follow up to China's State Council's. In The "Three-year Action Plan for Promoting the Development of a New Generation of Artificial Intelligence Industry (2018-2020)," the government specifically targets the research of AI-related policies, laws and regulations that create a healthy and sustainable environment for the industry to grow.