Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Vagaries of Law and Practice in Nigeria: Matters Arising

Abstract

The world is currently being faced with inevitable changes and disruptive innovations altering the status quo, redirecting activities and reassigning roles. These deviations which are accentuated by digitalization and driven by Information Communication Technology is radically changing the trajectory of human way of life with the aim of meeting some specific needs of the immediate society. Lately, and in the advent of fourth industrial revolution, AI has innovatively permeated almost every aspect of human endeavor with greater tendency of displacing mostly professionals in their various fields. Like many other endeavors and service providers, law and legal practice are not spared from the current inexplicable displacement which is an inevitable consequence of AI. This paper interrogates the readiness of legal practice and existing legal frameworks in Nigeria to match with the advancement championed by AI. Although AI is arguably not a very perfect innovation, the findings of this article reveal that there is dearth of relevant skills, expertise and inadequate legal framework to match the demands of the current waves. It therefore offers recommendations which suggest that AI and human would be seen to play complementary roles rather than AI being perceived as imminent threat to human roles.