Lawyers in Singapore now have access to Microsoft’s generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) tool Copilot, but are reminded about the importance of human oversight even as they embrace the technology. The platform, integrated with the country’s legal technology platform introduced in 2022, aims to support legal workflows with a variety of legal tech tools. Users can track work processes such as document drafts, team discussions, client instructions, and billing. The integration with Copilot allows for automation of tasks like drafting status updates and tracking deadlines. Local law firms can receive funding support for subscribing to the tech platform and Copilot module. However, it is emphasized that human lawyers must still play a crucial role in legal advice and cannot solely rely on AI. Microsoft and the Singapore Academy of Law are partnering to provide training and resources for legal professionals to use Gen AI effectively and ethically. The High Court Judge in Singapore stressed the importance of instilling values and morals in legal professionals for responsible AI use. Microsoft’s internal poll showed improved task efficiency and accuracy from using Gen AI software. PwC also announced partnerships with AI-powered platforms to enhance legal processes for its legal clientele in Singapore. Singapore is developing an LLM trained in legal data, named GPT-Legal, to be deployed in phases starting this month.
